Why do Turtles Stick Their Heads Out of the Water?

If you have ever seen an aquatic turtle in the wild, you probably saw that they stick their heads out of the water. This behavior is also common in pet turtles.

Turtles have a natural instinct to stick their heads out of the water. It actually benefits them in many ways. This will be the topic of today’s article, as we will explain exactly why turtles display this behavior.

Why do turtles stick their heads out of the water?

The main reasons turtles stick their head out of the water is to breathe, observe their environment, beg for food, and bask.

A turtle sticking their head out of the water is completely normal. Below is a summary of the main reasons they do this.

Breathe

Despite being semi-aquatic, turtles still need to breathe in air in order to get oxygen. Unlike fish, they do not have gills which can extract oxygen from the water. Therefore, every couple of minutes a turtle has to stick their head out of the water to breathe.

Scan their environment

Most aquatic turtles feel the safest in the water. This is because the majority of their predators are on land. In the water, a turtle can usually elude these threats. However, a turtle also likes to have a good sense of their environment. Therefore, they will stick their head out to look around and observe their environment.

Beg for food

It is very common for pet turtles to stick their heads out of the water in order to beg for food. They might even try to climb the walls in their tank. They will usually do this when they see you coming near the tank. This is most likely because they associate your presence with food. While it can be tempting, you shouldn’t feed your turtle more than twice a day.

Basking

While turtles usually bask by completely leaving the water, they will sometimes bask while floating on top of the water. They sometimes do this when there is not a good basking spot nearby. It is very important that you provide a basking spot for your turtle that is big enough for your turtle to lay on. You should also ensure that your turtle can easily access the basking spot. They may also stick their head out of the water to stretch their necks.

Should I be worried if my turtle keeps sticking their head out of the water?

Since this behavior is natural, there is no reason to panic if your turtle keeps sticking their head out of the water. The only issue it might signal is that your turtle has breathing issues. However, this is almost always associated with other symptoms.

If you are concerned that your turtle has breathing problems, they will likely be gasping for air when they stick their head out of the water. Additionally, you should look for the presence of mucus or other substances near their nose. If you see anything, you should try to wipe it clean.

It is also common for turtles with breathing problems to avoid the water. They might also have a change in appetite.

The bottom line is, as long as your turtle’s behavior is normal, there is no need to worry about them sticking their head out of the water.