Can Turtles Breathe Upside Down? Yes! But How Long?

Although sighting an upside-down turtle is a common occurrence, you might wonder if it’s a safe position for the reptile. One key query turtle owners often have regarding this position is, Can turtles breathe upside down?

Yes, turtles can breathe in an upside-down position only for a short time (5 minutes to several hours). When left upside down for an extended period, the turtle can get ill and even die. Lung damage, predator attack, lack of oxygen, dehydration, and overheating can be the causes of illness.

Let’s dive in and find out all about the survival chances of turtles in an upside-down position.

Can Turtles Breathe Upside Down? How Long Can They Do This?

As mentioned earlier, turtles can breathe upside-down. In general, turtles can breathe for 5 minutes to several hours in an upside-down position. Many turtles can live for a long period without air intake as they can store a considerable amount of air in their lungs. 

However, how long a turtle can breathe depends on several factors, including the following. 

Turtle Species

Sea turtles have larger and more efficient lungs. They have stronger respiratory muscles, which allows them to withstand the pressure of their body weight. So, they typically breathe upside down for longer periods than other turtles. 

Age and Size

Younger and smaller turtles have smaller lungs and less body weight, so they will breathe upside down for a short period. Similarly, extremely old turtles have limited mobility, making it difficult to survive longer when flipped. 

A healthy and sexually mature turtle who can use its resources efficiently will hold more air to breathe longer in an upside-down position. 

Shell Shape and Weight

Most turtles have self-righting capabilities to turn themselves from an upside-down position. According to research, turtles with dome-shaped shells flip more easily than flat-shelled turtles. 

The longer it takes to flip, the more stressed the turtle becomes and the less amount of time it can breathe upside down. Here’s a video displaying how a turtle self-right itself. 

Water Depth

In general, turtles flip themselves over more easily in deeper water. They have more room to maneuver, and the water pressure in deeper water counteracts the weight of the turtle’s shell. 

If the water is too shallow, the turtle can’t kick its legs hard enough to flip itself over. As it becomes panicked and tired more quickly, it fails to survive for longer periods in an upside-down position. 

Surrounding Environment

Factors like whether the turtle is on land or sea, temperature, and predation risks often decide how long a turtle can stay flipped. Aquatic soft-shelled turtles can breathe through their skin, so they survive longer when flipped in water. 

Warmer water increases the oxygen content in the water, making it easier for turtles to breathe. Similarly, an environment free of predators is less stressful, and it helps the turtle to breathe longer when it’s upside down.

Can Turtles Suffocate and Die Upside Down? – Risks of Flipping a Turtle

Yes, turtles can suffocate and die when they can’t breathe while staying upside down. It typically occurs when the turtle can’t turn back to its normal position for hours. Here are the reasons why turtles might die or become seriously ill when flipped:

Extra Pressure on the Lungs

As the lungs of a turtle are on top of its shell, it becomes difficult for the turtle to expand and contract the lungs. Thus, the reduced ability to take in oxygen results in improper blood circulation, leading to illness. 

Apart from the lungs, other sensitive internal organs are also under pressure when the turtle flips upside down. All these often result in suffocation, organ damage, and shell cracks.  

Lack of Oxygen

Although turtles can slow their metabolism rate to reduce the need for oxygen, they can’t go without oxygen for more than 5 hours. Some species survive even a shorter period without breathing air. 

Although aquatic turtles can breathe through their cloaca and skin, land turtles can’t intake sufficient oxygen for long without their lungs. The lack of oxygen causes suffocation and becomes detrimental if it fails to turn itself back.

Risks of Predation

To protect their body from predators, turtles hide in their shells in normal conditions. However, when they are upside down, the most vulnerable parts of their bodies are exposed. 

Due to this lack of protection, turtles fall easy victim to predators. The predators include hunting avians, sharks, crabs, raccoons, and even insects both in water and on land.  

Dehydration and Overheating

If a land turtle is flipped for an extended period, it can suffer from dehydration. Just like any other reptile, turtles need to submerge in water to hydrate their body. 

As it can’t walk or move when it’s flipped, the turtle can’t eat or drink anything. The presence of the sun often makes it worse as it can cause overheating and make the turtle even less hydrated. 

When Do Turtles Turn Upside Down?

Turtles flipping upside down isn’t a rare occurrence in any way. But why do turtles risk their lives this way? In most cases, it’s unintentional and happens due to illness or unfavorable surroundings. Here are the possible reasons why turtles turn upside down:

Tripping Over

Turtles are curious reptiles who like to explore their surroundings. While doing so, they often trip over due to the presence of obstacles in their way. Even captive turtles can trip over the decorative pieces inside the tank. 

Besides, if they try to climb a tree or other substrate too high, they can fall and get stuck upside down. 

Involvement in a Fight

As turtles are highly territorial, they are often involved in fights with other animals who try to occupy their territory. This is particularly common in areas with multiple male turtles. 

Moreover, they engage in fierce battles during the mating season and bob their heads to attract the female. These confrontations result in one or both turtles being flipped onto their backs. 

Health Issues

Certain health issues can compromise a turtle’s coordination and balance. Respiratory infection is the most common health problem that makes the turtle lose its buoyancy and flip over unintentionally. Health issues that make a turtle prone to flipping over include the following. 

• Metabolic bone disease
• Shell deformities
• Injury
• Viral and fungal attack due to vitamin A deficiency

Ocean Currents

Although sea turtles are well-adapted to life in the ocean, strong ocean currents can still flip them over. It’s more common during their early stages of life when hatchlings are especially vulnerable. 

Strong sea waves can knock them over and push them towards the beach. The turtles get stuck in there in an upside-down position.

Resting Hatchling 

Occasionally, hatchling turtles will rest upside down. On their way heading towards the sea, the hatchlings often get tired and lay on their backs to take a rest. It’s a way for them to conserve energy. However, this often makes them more exposed to predators. 

How to Help an Upside-Down Turtle?

When you come across an upside-down turtle, you need to observe its condition before trying to help it. If the turtle looks healthy and it’s not injured in any way, it can right itself in a while. 

However, injured adults, hatchlings, and older turtles might not be able to correct their position. You also need to consider the risks of predation. If you find an upside-down turtle that can’t flip back, follow these steps to correct it:

1. First, wear a thick pair of rubber gloves, as turtles can carry parasites and sometimes bite when you try to touch them.
2. Now, gently reach out to the shell of the turtle from one side and flip the turtle back on its belly. Be careful not to hurt the softer parts of the turtle.
3. Only touch the hard shell of the turtle and put your hands away from its mouth and neck. That’s because a flipped turtle is under stress, and when you try to correct it, the turtle might panic and bite.
4. If the turtle is in a pond or other body of water, scoop it out gently with a net or bucket.
5. Finally, try to find out what caused the turtle to flip. Remove any obstacles that might come its way. In case the turtle is injured, take veterinary help immediately. 

Check out this video for some more useful tips. 

Wrapping Up!

From our exploration of ‘Can turtles breathe upside down?’, you now know turtles can breathe in this position only for a limited time. Over time, the lack of oxygen, stress, and starvation will lead a flipped turtle to death or serious illness. 

While it can be a normal resting position for hatchlings, adult turtles fall on their backs unintentionally. To avoid this, make sure your turtle’s aquarium is properly sized. Also, avoid placing slippery objects like plastic or glass inside the enclosure.