I have read up on red eared slider's, but they don't say where they breathe from?

Question

I haven't bought an aquarium for my turtle yet. So I have to keep him/her in what she/he was bought in.I know that they are cold-blooded and need warm water, so I change the water often. I'm afraid I'm doing some harm to him/her though, going from cold to warmish.I don't make it too warm. And I also don't know the amount of water he/she should be in, so to be on the safe side, I just put him/her in enough water so that he/she can put his head under, yet still pop back out. How do they breathe? I will be getting him/her a good place for him/her soon though,At petco. I did not want a turtle but now I can't let him/her go. Unless I find someone that will take care of him/her the way it should be....

My daughter brought this turtle home and now I have to take care of it...What I really meant and I should have worded it right ; was , in water, like a fish. Does it need that much water or would I be drowning it, is what I should have said. It is a RES I looked up the picture. I just didnt know about the water level.

Answer 1

the turtle breathes oxygen just like you...through its lungs. they swim to the surface and breath...then hold their breath and swim under water. You can put enough water in the aquarium for the turt to swim and make sure you put something it can crawl onto to rest...something out of the water. Get a heater for the water and set it at 78 to 82 degrees. Also, if your thinking of keeping this poor turt you need to get a light that will produce uvb light as well....and food...have you thought about what your gonna feed the turt? No ....I din't think so....worms, fish, snails, plants.....still want to keep the thing? Do your self and the turt a favor and let it go.....

Answer 2

1. Turtles breath through their nose and mouth.

2. Turtles want water that runs about 70F at night, and 75-80F in the day- at all times, not just when it cools off. You are right- hot/cold cycles are not good for it.

3. Turtles like big, clean, warm water spaces. Please get this taken care of soon. Aim for at least 10 gallons per inch of shell length, and do some planning- it can hit 10 inches in the next 5 years, and a full-grown Red-ear can need a really big tank.

4. For a REALLY good care sheet, try nhttp://www.redearslider.com

Answer 3

Turtles breathe through the nose unless they are in torpor/hibernation (which for now, you don't need to worry about). Your turtle (assuming you are right and that it is a red eared slider) can swim no matter how little it is, and should be in deeper water to keep it fit. It should also have land to bask. When you get it a tank, keep in mind that a red eared slider will get to be the size of a shoe box, in a few years, so don't just buy a small tank for the little guy--if you get 10 gal. tank, you'll want to upgrade within a year or so...so you might as well spring for a bigger one (and bigger filters/pumps/etc.) now, instead of buying small stuff now and then also buying big stuff when the time comes.

Answer 4

Turtles breathe through their nose and mouth, just the same as you.

Answer 5

if you are referring to turtles breathing out their butts acording to George Angehr, Smithsonian ornithologist the answer is yes the can but they are not the only ones. see the website below. someone else with more experience with turtles can lead you in care.

Answer 6

they can hold there breath for about 3 minutes