Do Turtles Sleep Underwater? (Short Answer: Yes)

Yes, many turtles sleep underwater. Aquatic species often doze while submerged, staying still on the pond bottom or wedged under rocks. They surface briefly to gulp air every few hours, then settle back into a light rest. However, not all turtles sleep underwater. Strictly land-based turtles like box turtles and tortoises sleep on land.

Turtle “sleep” isn’t quite like human sleep. Instead, it’s more of a restful, low-activity state. When turtles sleep, their metabolism slows down and they remain alert to danger. Most turtles seek a safe, hidden spot to snooze, for example under submerged logs, in muddy pond bottoms, or tucked into crevices. Some turtles withdraw into their shells while resting to protect themselves from predators. This natural caution helps them feel secure enough to sleep, whether underwater or on land.

Below we’ll explore how different types of turtles sleep, from sea turtles in the ocean to freshwater turtles in ponds and land turtles in forests. We’ll also look at how turtles can stay underwater so long, how hibernation (brumation) works, and answer common questions about turtles sleeping safely.

Table of Contents

• Do Turtles Sleep Underwater? How Do Turtles Sleep?
  • Sea Turtles
  • Freshwater Turtles
  • Land Turtles
• Hibernation (Brumation)
• Can Turtles Drown While Sleeping?

Do Turtles Sleep Underwater? How Do Turtles Sleep?

Most turtles can and do sleep underwater, but it depends on the species and their habitat. Aquatic turtles, including sea turtles, pond turtles, map turtles, mud and musk turtles commonly snooze below the surface.

They often rest at the bottom of a body of water or float just under the surface, sometimes with their nose poking out to grab a breath. In contrast, land-dwelling turtles such as box turtles and tortoises do not sleep underwater at all. These terrestrial species lack the adaptations for prolonged underwater breathing and will drown if submerged too long. Instead, land turtles sleep on ground, buried in soil or nestled under leaf litter.

When a turtle sleeps underwater, its body goes into an energy-saving mode. The turtle’s heart rate and breathing slow dramatically. In cool water at night, a turtle’s metabolism drops so low that it can go for hours without taking a breath.

This is why a sleeping aquatic turtle can remain underwater much longer than an active turtle, often around 4 to 7 hours at a stretch during normal sleep. By comparison, a turtle that is awake and swimming might need to surface every 20-30 minutes or even more frequently for air. While resting, the turtle uses far less oxygen.

Unlike fish, turtles don’t have gills, they cannot truly “breathe” water. However, some aquatic turtles have a remarkable trick to extract a little oxygen underwater. They perform cloacal respiration, meaning they absorb oxygen through specialized tissues in their cloaca (the rear opening used for excretion and egg-laying).

Essentially, they can take in a tiny amount of oxygen from the water through blood vessel-rich areas in the throat and tail end. This extra oxygen intake isn’t enough for an active turtle, but it helps a sleeping turtle last longer between breaths, especially in cold conditions. Still, even aquatic turtles must periodically wake and swim up to the surface for a gulp of air. They cannot get all their oxygen from the water during regular sleep.

Turtles also prefer sheltered spots when sleeping. In the wild, a turtle will pick a location that feels secure from predators and environmental hazards. It might wedge itself under an overhanging rock, hide among plant roots, or burrow partway into the mud. In captivity, pet turtles benefit from having hiding places too.

Aquatic pet turtles often sleep at the bottom of their tank or under a piece of driftwood. Providing a hollow log or a submerged cave in the aquarium can encourage natural sleep behavior. Land turtles likewise appreciate a safe hide box or burrow to sleep in. Feeling hidden and safe allows the turtle to truly relax during its rest.

Overall, most turtles are nocturnal or crepuscular sleepers. They rest mainly at night or in the cool early hours. During the day, aquatic turtles frequently bask in the sun, lying very still on a rock or log to warm up.

While basking isn’t exactly sleep, turtles often appear drowsy and inactive during these sunbathing sessions. This “quiet time” during daylight helps them regulate their body temperature and could be considered a light rest. At night, the same turtle will slip back into the water to sleep for hours underwater, taking advantage of the safety and stable temperatures beneath the surface.

Sea Turtles

Sea turtles spend almost their entire lives in the ocean, and they do sleep underwater. Marine turtles generally sleep in shallow coastal waters where they can easily surface for air when needed. A sea turtle will often wedge itself under a coral ledge or inside a reef cave to sleep, which prevents it from floating away in currents. While sleeping, a sea turtle’s heart rate and oxygen use plummet. This lets it hold its breath for a very long time compared to when it’s active.

A resting sea turtle can stay underwater for about 2 hours or more before needing to breathe. In fact, when in a really deep resting state, some sea turtles have been recorded sleeping underwater for up to 4-7 hours by slowing their heart rate to just a few beats per minute! By contrast, if the turtle is swimming actively, it must surface much more frequently (every few minutes) for air.

Sea turtles typically sleep at night. For example, green sea turtles often forage during the day and then settle down after dusk in a safe spot on the reef to snooze. They may tuck under an overhang or among rocks on the seafloor. Divers in places like Hawaii and the Caribbean commonly see sea turtles “napping” under ledges or in reef crevices.

The turtle will remain mostly motionless, occasionally gently rising to the surface for a quick breath and then returning to its same resting spot. Because their metabolism is so slow during sleep, they only need to take in a fresh breath every few hours. This ability to sleep underwater allows sea turtles to avoid predators (like sharks) that patrol the surface at night.

Even though sea turtles are adept at underwater sleeping, they still must be careful to breathe. If a sea turtle gets trapped underwater by something and can’t reach the surface, it can drown just like any other turtle. Unfortunately, adult sea turtles sometimes drown if they become ensnared in fishing nets or debris while resting. But under normal conditions, a healthy sea turtle will wake up and swim to the surface before it runs out of oxygen. Its body’s low power mode during sleep gives it a large safety margin.

Threats: All seven species of sea turtles are threatened or endangered in the wild. Hazards like fishing net entanglement, boat strikes, and plastic pollution can injure sea turtles or interrupt their natural rest. Because of these threats, sea turtles are protected under various conservation laws (for instance, all sea turtles in U.S. waters are safeguarded by the Endangered Species Act).

Conservation: Conservation programs worldwide monitor sea turtle nesting and migration. Efforts include protecting nesting beaches, reducing bycatch (e.g., using Turtle Excluder Devices in nets), and rehabilitating injured turtles. A safe sleeping habitat is important too, and preserving healthy coral reefs gives sea turtles secure places to rest.

Freshwater Turtles

Most freshwater turtles including common pet species like painted turtles, red-eared sliders, mud turtles, musk turtles, and map turtles prefer to sleep underwater as well. In a natural pond or lake, a freshwater turtle will typically drop to the bottom at night to sleep.

Often it wedges itself into mud or sand, or hides under submerged vegetation or logs for cover. The water at the bottom of a pond stays relatively stable in temperature and offers protection from land predators, making it an ideal turtle bedroom. The turtle’s metabolism slows down in the cool, dark water, allowing it to stay submerged for long periods while asleep.

Freshwater turtles have an impressive ability to go without breathing during their sleep, though not quite as long as sea turtles. A sleeping painted turtle or slider in moderate water temperatures may stay underwater for several hours (commonly 4-7 hours) before needing to swim up for air.

These turtles can absorb a bit of oxygen from the water through their throat lining and cloaca, but it’s only enough to supplement their lungs. They will rouse slightly when they need a breath, paddle up and stick their nose above water for a quick inhale, then sink back down to resume their nap. This routine might repeat a few times during the night.

In captivity, aquatic turtles often mimic this behavior. Pet turtles in an aquarium will find a cozy corner or under a filter outflow to snooze. It’s a good idea for owners to provide a shallow area or resting platform in the tank.

For instance, you can use smooth river rocks or a basking platform that doubles as a shallow submerged shelf. The turtle can sleep there partly underwater without struggling to reach the surface. One popular accessory is a floating log (such as the Zoo Med Floating Turtle Log) that creates a hollow hiding spot underwater. Small or medium-sized turtles can crawl inside to feel safe while they nap.

Note that while most pond turtles sleep underwater, some individuals do occasionally sleep on land. It’s not unusual, for example, to see a map turtle or slider asleep on a muddy bank or a piece of driftwood at night. This isn’t cause for concern, they may simply choose a spot that feels secure. However, all freshwater turtles will spend a lot of their resting time in the water because their bodies are adapted to aquatic life. As cold-blooded (ectothermic) animals, the water helps regulate their body temperature during rest.

During the daytime, freshwater turtles engage in a behavior called basking. When basking, a turtle climbs out of the water onto a log or rock and lies still under the sun or a heat lamp. Basking turtles often close their eyes and remain motionless for long periods, which makes them look like they’re napping.

In a sense, basking is a light nap. The turtle is resting and soaking up heat. It’s important for turtle health, as it allows them to dry off and absorb UVB rays for vitamin D3 production. Owners should always provide a warm, dry basking area in an aquarium. But keep in mind that a basking turtle will still need to rehydrate and cool off, so it will go back into the water after its sunbath. True deep sleep for aquatic turtles typically happens underwater when they’re fully relaxed.

Threats: Freshwater turtles face increasing threats in the wild. Wetland habitat loss, water pollution, and over-collection for the pet trade have caused declines in many species. Predators such as raccoons also prey on sleeping or hibernating turtles (especially eggs and hatchlings). Creating safe, clean aquatic environments helps turtles continue their natural sleeping and brumation cycles.

Conservation: Conservation status varies widely among the dozens of freshwater turtle species. Some, like the painted turtle, are still common. Others, like the bog turtle and some river turtles, are endangered. Wildlife agencies are working to protect critical wetlands and regulate collection. For pet owners, never release captive turtles into the wild. It can harm local populations. Instead, support conservation by keeping pet turtles responsibly and aiding wetland preservation efforts.

Land Turtles

Not all turtles spend their nights underwater. Terrestrial turtles and tortoises, such as box turtles and Russian tortoises, sleep on land exclusively. These land-loving turtles do not have the ability to breathe underwater, so attempting to sleep underwater would be fatal for them. Instead, land turtles find or create safe spots on dry land to sleep. For example, a wild box turtle will dig into soft soil or under leaf litter at dusk to form a shallow burrow where it spends the night. The layer of soil and leaves helps insulate the turtle and hide it from predators. Similarly, tortoises often scoot into burrows or under bushes to sleep. They may even return to the same “bedroom” spot each evening.

If you keep a land turtle or tortoise as a pet, you’ll need to provide an appropriate sleeping area in its enclosure. A pet box turtle, for instance, benefits from a humid hide box filled with moss or soft substrate. This moisture box mimics the damp soil conditions a turtle would seek in nature and helps the turtle stay hydrated while it rests. Additionally, give land turtles a dark, quiet hide where they feel secure. A small pet cave, a pile of straw, or a half log can all work. They will usually burrow into their bedding material each night to sleep.

Land turtles tend to sleep for longer stretches than aquatic turtles. Many terrestrial turtles are crepuscular or diurnal, meaning they are active during the morning and late afternoon and then sleep through the night.

A box turtle might snooze for 8-10 hours overnight, especially in cooler seasons. Tortoises are known to be heavy sleepers. An adult tortoise can sleep 12 hours or more each day. Because land turtles don’t have the option of lowering their metabolism underwater to extend breath-holding, they instead conserve energy by being inactive for long periods. In the wild, this can help them avoid the heat of midday (by napping in shade) and conserve moisture.

During winter, many land turtles hibernate on land (more on that below). They will dig deeper into the ground to escape freezing temperatures. This is a survival strategy similar to aquatic turtles hibernating underwater, except land turtles must find a spot where they won’t dry out.

In captive care, if your area gets cold, you may need to facilitate safe hibernation for your pet box turtle or tortoise, or alternatively keep them warm and awake through winter. Never force a land turtle into water for hibernation. Species like box turtles cannot get oxygen underwater and will drown if submerged for extended times.

Threats: Land turtles such as the Eastern box turtle are experiencing population declines due to habitat destruction, road mortality, and collection for the pet trade. A sleeping box turtle hidden in leaf litter is vulnerable if its habitat is disturbed (for instance, by construction or logging). Predators like raccoons can also dig up hibernating turtles. Because of these pressures, the Eastern box turtle is now considered a vulnerable species in many areas.

Conservation: Conservationists recommend protecting forest floor habitats and travel corridors to help land turtles find safe nesting and sleeping sites. Some regions have created road crossing structures or designated wildlife areas for turtles. If you have a land turtle as a pet, never release it into the wild. Captive turtles may carry diseases or not survive local conditions. Instead, contribute to conservation by supporting habitat protection and educating others about keeping wild turtles wild.

Hibernation (Brumation)

When discussing turtle sleep, we should also touch on hibernation (for reptiles this is often called brumation). Hibernation or brumation is a state of deep dormancy that turtles in cold climates enter during the winter. It’s like a very prolonged sleep where the turtle’s metabolism slows to a crawl.

Many temperate-zone turtles brumate each year to survive freezing temperatures when food is scarce. Aquatic species such as painted turtles and snapping turtles will bruminate underwater, buried in mud at the bottom of ponds. Land species like box turtles will dig down into loose soil or find a burrow to brumate on land.

Hibernating turtles can survive astonishing lengths of time without breathing. In cold water, a brumating aquatic turtle’s metabolism can drop by over 90%. Its heart may beat only a few times per hour. In this state, the turtle can remain underwater for months, often from late fall through early spring without coming up for air.

For example, a painted turtle under ice can go 3-4 months submerged, extracting just enough oxygen from the water via cloacal respiration to stay alive. It also switches to anaerobic metabolism (using stored energy without oxygen), which causes lactic acid to build up.

Amazingly, turtles have a built-in coping mechanism: they release calcium from their shells into their bloodstream to neutralize that acid, preventing lethal acidosis. When spring arrives and the water warms, the turtle finally surfaces and resumes normal breathing and activity.

Hibernation is not without risks. In the wild, not every turtle survives the winter. If a turtle goes into hibernation already weak or ill, it might not have enough energy reserves to last until spring. If the winter den is too shallow and the ground freezes hard, a land turtle can freeze to death.

Hibernating turtles are also easy prey. They are sluggish and can’t escape if a predator finds them. For instance, an undisturbed pile of leaves might conceal a brumating box turtle, which could be dug up by a scavenging raccoon. Despite these dangers, brumation is a natural part of the life cycle for many turtles, and those that are healthy and have suitable hibernation sites usually do fine.

In captivity, some turtle keepers choose to prevent hibernation by maintaining warm temperatures and lighting year-round. This is often advisable for pet turtles, since hibernation can be risky if not done correctly. However, certain species (and breeders aiming to encourage breeding behavior) may deliberately brumate turtles under controlled conditions.

If you do need to hibernate a pet turtle, careful preparation is key. A month or so before winter, you should stop feeding the turtle (fasting for a few weeks) to clear its digestive tract. Any food left undigested can rot inside the turtle during brumation and cause illness. Ensure the turtle is in good health with no respiratory or weight issues. Then, gradually cool down its environment over time.

Many owners set up a dedicated hibernation box (also called a hibernaculum). For a land turtle, this could be a sturdy box filled with slightly moist sand or soil and leaf litter. For an aquatic turtle, a hibernation setup might include a plastic tub lined with aquarium substrate and a pile of damp leaves, with a shallow layer of water at one end.

The idea is to give the turtle the option to burrow into mud-like conditions or rest in water as needed. The hibernation box is then placed in a location where the temperature stays around 40-50 °F (about 5-10 °C).

This could be an unheated basement, garage, or even a spare refrigerator (set to a warmer setting). The temperature must remain low enough to keep the turtle inactive but above freezing. Some keepers use a garage or shed, but an indoor fridge provides more consistent temperatures and protection from predators.

Throughout the hibernation period, the turtle should be checked periodically (e.g. once a week) to ensure it’s safe. If using a hibernation box, maintain slight moisture so the turtle doesn’t dehydrate, but not so wet that fungus grows.

The turtle will not eat or defecate during brumation, and its breathing will be nearly imperceptible. After the appropriate duration (often 2-3 months for temperate species), gradually warm the turtle back up to end hibernation.

Provide water and light as it becomes active again, and resume feeding after the turtle fully awakens and its digestion kicks in. Successfully hibernating a turtle can be complex, which is why it’s recommended only for experienced keepers or when absolutely necessary (such as certain species requiring a winter cool-down).

In summary, hibernation/brumation is like an extended sleep that helps turtles survive unfavorable cold conditions. Aquatic turtles brumating underwater can go without breathing for months thanks to extreme metabolic slowdown and special adaptations like cloacal respiration.

Land turtles brumate on land by digging into earth to avoid freezing. If conditions are not right, hibernation can be fatal. So wild turtles pick their spots carefully, and keepers must be diligent when simulating this process. Outside of hibernation season, turtles do not sleep for nearly that long; their regular nightly sleeps are much shorter and safer, as described earlier.

Can Turtles Drown While Sleeping?

A common concern is whether a turtle might drown if it dozes off underwater. The good news is that it is rare for a healthy turtle to drown during sleep. Turtles have evolved to rest in water and instinctively know when to breathe.

An aquatic turtle sleeping underwater will wake up and swim to the surface once it senses its oxygen is running low. Their brains retain enough awareness to trigger breathing, even in a resting state. Think of it like how humans still automatically breathe while asleep, turtles automatically surface when needed.

However, drowning can occur if something prevents the turtle from reaching the surface. The risk comes from traps or hazards, not from the act of sleeping itself. For example, if a turtle wedges itself into a spot and gets stuck, it could run out of air.

In captivity, issues like a turtle getting wedged behind a tank filter or trapped under a decoration could be dangerous. A hatchling turtle can be at risk if the water is too deep or if a strong filter intake pulls it down, since baby turtles tire quickly and might not make it to the top for air.

To prevent any problems, turtle owners should ensure the enclosure is safe: no tight gaps a turtle can get stuck in, covers on any filter intakes, and easy ways for the turtle to climb to the surface (ramps or shallow areas).

Wild turtles occasionally drown too, but again it’s usually due to extraordinary circumstances. Strong swimmers like sea turtles have drowned when entangled in fishing nets and unable to surface. Even during mating, a female sea turtle can drown if a male holds her underwater for too long. In freshwater, turtles like terrapins have drowned after getting trapped in crab traps. These are unfortunate incidents. Under normal conditions, a turtle sleeping in a pond or ocean is very unlikely to drown, it will wake and get a breath in time.

To put it simply, turtles do need air to live, but they are quite good at managing their oxygen while sleeping. They won’t “forget” to breathe. As long as the turtle isn’t physically prevented from surfacing, it should be safe. If you have a pet turtle, just double-check its habitat for any drowning hazards. Provide shallow water for babies, make sure basking docks are secure, and you can rest easy knowing your shelled friend can sleep safely.

Conclusion

Turtles have fascinating sleeping habits that vary by species, but many of them do indeed sleep underwater. Aquatic turtles are well adapted to an underwater lifestyle, they can slow their metabolism and hold their breath for hours while napping beneath the surface. Sea turtles drift under reef ledges, pond turtles snooze in the soft mud, all taking advantage of water as a safe haven for rest. Terrestrial turtles, on the other hand, must find refuge on land, burrowing into soil or hiding under vegetation to sleep securely.

Even though turtles can sleep underwater, they still need to breathe air. Through evolutionary adaptations like cloacal respiration and extreme metabolic slowdown, turtles push the limits of breath-holding when sleeping or hibernating. An active turtle might last only minutes underwater, but a sleeping turtle can last hours, and a hibernating turtle can last months without a single breath! These survival strategies allow turtles to outlast winter freezes and avoid predators during vulnerable times.

For turtle owners, understanding these habits is valuable. If you see your pet turtle lying motionless underwater at night, don’t be alarmed. It’s likely just having a snooze. Ensure the turtle’s environment lets it sleep comfortably: provide water deep enough to cover it but shallow enough for easy surfacing, keep the water clean and at proper temperatures, and include hides or plants for a sense of security. For land turtles, give them a moist, dark hide to curl up in.

In the end, turtles are resilient reptiles with the amazing ability to sleep underwater when nature calls for it. From the ocean’s coral reefs to your backyard pond, these sleepy shelled creatures manage their oxygen and safety with instinctive skill.

By respecting their needs and habitats and keeping an eye on them during extreme conditions we can help ensure turtles get their rest, whether under waves or under leaves.

If you have any more questions or interesting observations about how turtles sleep, feel free to share them. Turtles may be quiet at night, but there’s always more to learn about their secret life under the water. Sweet dreams, little turtles!

Sources

• Sea Turtle Conservancy – Sea Turtle Sleep & Breath-Holding Facts
• LiveScience (Litzgus, 2017) – Cloacal Respiration & Turtle Hibernation
• NOAA Fisheries – Sea Turtle Diving and Status Information
• Journal of Experimental Biology (2008) – Painted Turtle Winter Anoxia Adaptations
• IUCN Red List – Eastern Box Turtle Conservation Status