Why Is My Turtle Digging a Hole? 7 Possible Reasons & What to Do

Turtles are interesting pets for their strange behaviors, including digging holes. This is not something they do on a regular basis. Therefore, when they do it, you may wonder, “Why is my turtle digging a hole?”

Turtles can dig holes for different reasons, like looking for food, preparing to hibernate or aestivate, being stressed out, or preparing to lay eggs. They can also dig sometimes to escape unpleasant situations or if they feel threatened. 

Understanding the reasons for such behavior will help you take proper care of them. So, let’s explore why your turtle shows such behavior and whether there is anything to worry about. 

Why Is My Turtle Digging a Hole? Reasons Explained

If you notice your turtle is digging, try to find out the reasons instead of getting worried for them. Some of the most common causes include the following:

Turtle Is About to Hibernate

Hibernation is a common phenomenon for turtles. They hibernate during the winter, especially when the water temperature is below 50 degrees F. This is one of their natural habits in the wild. 

Do you keep your turtle inside a tank, and winter is coming? Then, check the temperature of the water. However, all turtles, especially tropical turtles, do not hibernate. If yours is a tropical turtle and it is still digging holes, then there can be some other reasons for it. 

Ready To Lay Eggs

Is your turtle male or female? If female, are they sexually mature? Digging is a common part of female turtles’ nature when they are mature. They dig holes to lay eggs in it. They can lay eggs even if they are not mated. 

This behavior is more common among the sea turtles. They dig holes in the shore and hide their eggs in it. Try to provide a suitable nesting area with a depth of soil or sand so that your turtle can bury her eggs properly. You should also keep an eye on the temperature and humidity level. 

Sometimes, people get confused if their single turtle digs a hole. Even if your female turtle lives alone, she can still lay eggs, though these will be infertile. They will dig small holes and lay their eggs in it. You can see this in the following video:

Looking for Food

Another reason for your turtle to dig a hole is looking for food. This habit is more common for turtles in the wild than pet ones. However, you should still check if the turtle is getting its food properly. 

Even if you feed your turtle properly, it can also dig into the gravel to find the bottom of the tank. This can hint that you are not feeding them the right food. As a result, they show this behavior of digging out of their instinct. 

They Are Bored

Sometimes, turtles dig into the sand or soil for no specific reason. They are just bored and want to play around. This is a favorite pastime for male turtles. They love to play along with whatever you put into their tank. 

Sometimes, your pet turtle may dig in the sand to hide various things. If you put ornaments into their tank, they can sometimes hide and dig them out from the sand or soil. 

Change in Temperature

Turtles need a certain temperature to live comfortably. They usually like to live in a temperature where it is around 20-25 degrees Celsius. If the temperature gets lower than that, they show different strange behaviors, and digging holes is one of them. 

Though they can survive in cold weather, it stresses them greatly. You must monitor the water temperature of the tank regularly. If it gets too cold then you can add a water heater to keep the water warm and comfortable for them. 

Turtle Is Stressed Out

Digging a hole can be one of the strange behaviors turtles demonstrate when they are stressed. They even sometimes intend to do self-harm and often lose their gentleness and calmness. It can happen for several reasons, such as;

• Insufficient or lack of proper food supply
• Inadequate habitat that does not meet all their needs, including temperature, humidity, space, and hiding spots. 
• Excessive noise can scare and stress them out. If their tank is situated in a place where it gets exposed to loud noise regularly, it can cause stress and contribute to their digging habit. 

Aestivation

Digging holes is not always related to cold. Turtles can dig holes in summer, too, to aestivate. Aestivation is almost similar to hibernation. The major difference is that aestivation occurs during the summer. When the heat is too much to bear for turtles, they aestivate. 

Turtles usually do not need to go on aestivation in captivity. However, if you are not taking proper care of them, they can do this to save their energy. 

What to Do When Your Turtle Is Digging?

Once you have figured out “why is my turtle digging a hole,” you can take steps to help them. For example:

• Help Their Natural Behavior: If it is digging for laying eggs or for playing only, then it is okay. Let the turtle have its fun. You can help them by providing a suitable place for nesting. You can add extra sand or soil into the tank so that they can dig.

You should not interfere with their digging. If they are healthy, then let them do their work. 

• Check If Your Turtle Gets Sufficient Food: If your turtle is a male, then you should recheck its food habits. Check if the food you are providing is meeting the standard and necessary nutrition for them. Do the same for female turtles as well if they are not about to lay eggs.
• Check the Temperature and Humidity of the Tank: If the weather is cold in your place, try adding a heat lamp at night so that it does not get too cold for them to survive. 
• Consult the Vet: If the digging happens regularly, then you can consult a vet for suggestions. 

FAQ

After reading the whole discussion, you may need more information about some of your doubts. Here are some related questions that will give you some additional information about Turtle hole digging.

Q: How deep do turtles burrow?

Despite their small size and tiny hinds, turtle holes can be up to 2 feet deep in mud, stream bottom, or dirt. They dig as deep as they can to keep their offspring safe from predators. 

Q: What does a turtle hole look like?

The holes dug by female turtles for laying eggs have a round or oval shape in the ground. Male turtles often dig holes for fun or to relieve stress. These holes are irregular in shape. 

Conclusion

When you notice your turtle is digging a hole, you should investigate the reasons. Some reasons are part of their natural habits that you do not need to be concerned about, while some issues require your attention. 

You must not disturb their digging. Instead, help them by providing suitable nesting places. You must take care of their habitat and maintain an appropriate temperature, lighting, and humidity to ensure they are comfortable.