CARE - BEHAVIOUR
Behaviour
Your turtle can’t talk, but its behaviour tells you what it needs: swimming along the glass signals a habitat that’s too small, digging in the soil is normal foraging, and pulled-in legs simply mean it’s scared. Every turtle is an individual, but these general patterns hold true across species. Noisy breathing, lifelessness or closed eyes are signs worth investigating further.
Your turtle is an individual creature with its own behaviour and its own desires. Nevertheless, you can draw general conclusions from the behaviour your turtle displays.
My turtle doesn’t sleep well and regularly comes out of the water at night
Don’t panic, your turtle doesn’t have trouble sleeping! Turtles cannot breathe under water. Even when they are resting under water at night, they occasionally come up to breathe.
My turtle makes weird noises
In general, turtles don’t make any noise. Of course, there’s always an exception which proves the rule: a mating couple does make noise. A turtle with pneumonia will make noise: you should go to the vet.
My turtle is eating significantly less than usual
Test the temperature of your turtle’s water. Is it too cold?
My turtles are chasing each other – it seems as if one turtle is cornering the other
Your turtles have probably started a mating dance and you may soon have to decide if you want to have baby turtles. Be sure to read the page about [turtle breeding](TODO JDI add link).
My turtle swims/walks/climbs along the wall of the paludarium all the time. Sometimes it seems as if my turtle wants to escape
When aquatic turtles enter a new environment, it’s quite normal for them to swim along the wall while they explore their new environment. After about a week, this behaviour should stop; if it doesn’t, this may indicate that your turtle doesn’t find its habitat to be suitable. Is the paludarium too small? Is your turtle disturbed by strong smells or noises? Or is your female turtle looking for a place to lay her eggs?
My turtle digs into the soil on the island
Is your turtle’s environment warm? Your turtle is probably looking for a cool place in which to hide. If your turtle is female, it may be trying to lay eggs.
My turtle digs into the soil covering of the paludarium
Turtles like to root in the soil covering as they look for food. This doesn’t mean they’re hungry and you don’t need to give them more food. Looking for food is purely a hobby for turtles. Sometimes turtles also dig into the soil covering out of fear, looking for shelter. You’ll notice the difference when your turtle is rooting for fun: there’s no sudden terrified reaction.
My turtle lies with its legs stretched out
There’s nothing wrong with that – quite the contrary. Your turtle is enjoying the sun! However, if your turtle lies like that all day and looks rather weak, your turtle may be seriously ill and it’s best to contact a vet.
My turtle stands upright with its head up
Your turtle is curious and wants to take in its environment.
My turtle pulls its head and legs in
When a turtle is scared, it pulls all its vulnerable parts into its shell. The shell offers protection from predators like herons, because it’s much harder than predators’ own beaks. Don’t try to lure your turtle out of its shell, just leave it alone and it will crawl out by itself.
My turtle turns its head and holds it alongside its body
You have a Pleurodira or a Cryptodira and it’s scared. Leave your turtle alone for a while. Can’t find the answer above? Do you have a question about the behaviour of your turtle and you can’t find the answer above? Take a look on one of the Turtle Forums:
