Do Turtles Drink Water? Science-Based Facts & FAQ

Some reptiles have very little water intake, but all of them require it to survive. Turtles are no exception. Water is an absolutely vital component of your turtle’s dietary makeup. But how exactly do turtles obtain their water content, and how should you offer it in captivity? We will look at all the aspects of water intake and more.

Yes, Turtles Drink Water

Like most other life forms, turtles, indeed, drink water. If you have a turtle as a pet, you might not get them a traditional water bottle as you would for a hamster or a rabbit, but they still need water to live!

Most of the time, turtles get the required amount of water from their diets and environment.

Land vs. Aquatic Turtles

What is interesting is the way a turtle absorbs water into their body. Land turtles typically drink water once or twice per day if they are pets. Some examples of land turtles include box turtles and tortoises.

Since aquatic turtles are surrounded by water, they often absorb the water through their skin and through what they eat. Examples of aquatic turtles are red-eared sliders and painted turtles. Although, most turtles are only semi-aquatic—meaning they spend time on water and land.

Both aquatic and land turtles receive most of their hydration from the foods they consume and skin absorption. Therefore, it is rare that they have to consume water on their own. So if you have a pet turtle and you notice that you’ve never really witnessed them drinking, it’s very likely that they are getting water from their surroundings.

Animal vs. Plant Content

Most turtles are omnivores. That means they need a certain amount of animal and plant products to stay happy and healthy. However, the types of food they consume say a lot about how much water they will drink.

For example, if they’re eating a lot of insects and animal-based foods, they will require more water to drink. However, if they’re eating a lot of plants with high water content, they will need less water outside of the diet.

Remember that roughly half of the turtle’s primary diet should consist of vegetables. They require around a 50/50 mix of each to stay strong and healthy. But if there is an imbalance, it can create a few health issues that can be avoided by simply portioning correctly.

Turtles Often Eat in Water

Many turtle experts will tell you to feed your turtle directly in the water, but why is this? If your turtle is consuming food in the water, they’re also drinking it. When your turtle consumes the water along with their food, they receive the proper amount of hydration.

It can be a little tricky to ensure your turtle is getting enough water, but you should just let their instincts take over. The water will help them digest food. Turtles cannot produce saliva on their own. Eating in water will help break down the food they’re eating, which helps it pass through their digestive system.

Keeping Tank Water Clean

Because tank water can get so stagnant, it is a breeding ground for bacteria. It is crucial to keep your turtle’s water clean so that they have drinking water that does not contaminate them in any way. Having a filter is also an excellent method of keeping down debris and overgrowth.

Cloudy or foul-smelling water can happen quickly when you’re keeping a turtle. The water harbors waste, which includes ammonia and nitrates. These components can add up to harmful levels over time, greatly impacting your turtle’s health.

Without proper tank cleanliness and filtration, turtles can develop respiratory problems and many other health issues. You can think about it like this. Dirty tank water is equivalent to swimming around in your own sewage—unsanitary and health-disrupting!

Changing Tank Water

Getting into the habit of cleaning your turtle’s tank water is crucial. Even if the tank water looks visibly acceptable to the naked eye, you should still partially change it out once a week. It’s time to do an entire full tank change every 3 to 4 weeks.

Adding Filtration

Adding a filter to your turtle’s water will keep it fresh longer. It is a key component to ensuring aquarium cleanliness. You can refresh the filter every time you change the tank water. But you shouldn’t have to change out the filter entirely until the 3- to 4-month mark.

Do Turtles Pee?

Ah, yes, the age-old quandary of whether turtles pee. Naturally, if turtles consume water, turtles also have to eliminate that water. After all, turtles need to eliminate waste from their bodies just like any other creature that eats and drinks.

Much like birds, turtles excrete both urine and feces from the same orifice. Turtles do not have an anus— but what they do have is a cloaca.

What is interesting is that there is a turtle by the name of the Chinese softshell turtle. It has a different way of doing things altogether. This turtle, instead of urinating from its cloaca, eliminates from its mouth.

Now, don’t worry. This is not a turtle that you will see in captivity. This is a saltwater turtle that isn’t a pet.

Conclusion

So now you know that turtles naturally drink water. It is a huge part of their makeup and helps them digest food. If you have a pet turtle, it is imperative to keep their water clean, as this serves as the water they consume as well. There’s no need to have a separate water bowl for your turtle, unless they are a land turtle or tortoise.

But because your turtle drinks from the same water they swim in, it is imperative that you clean the water every week and do a full change every 3 to 4 weeks. Nitrates and ammonia from pee must be extracted from the water to keep things fresh.

Featured Image Credit: Liubov Sydorenko,Shutterstock