Top 10 why do turtles need water to swallow You Need To Know

Eating and pooping in water isn’t something turtles do out of laziness. And although the water tends to get dirty very often due to these tendencies, water is deeply tied to a turtle’s digestive process. 

Keep reading, and you’ll find all the answers you’re looking for. 

Why Do Turtles Need Water To Swallow? 

Turtles need water to swallow their food because they don’t produce saliva. And since turtles also don’t have teeth, they can’t chew down their food. That’s why they have to rely on water to push the food down their throat. 

This practice is most common in aquatic and semi-aquatic species like Painted turtles and Red-Eared Sliders. When you give them any food, they’ll quickly jump into the water and eat it. 

Usually, turtles pump a little bit of the food in, blow the water, and repeat the process. 

Do Land Turtles Need Water To Swallow? 

Like their aquatic cousins, land turtles don’t have salivary glands or teeth either. Thus, they need water’s help to chew down and digest the food. However, they don’t absolutely have to dip their head in water like aquatic turtles do. 

Terrestrial species like Box turtles and Wood turtles can eat food on land and do so on many occasions. But they do need water by their side to facilitate this process. 

In the wild, land turtles often forage food on land and drag it to the water to swallow it. 

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How Do Turtles Eat Food Underwater Without Swallowing Too Much Water?

If you’re worried about concerns like the turtle gulping too much water and overhydration, there’s good news for you. 

Turtles have a highly evolved esophagus near their throat that functions as a pre-stomach. When eating inside water, turtles fill the esophagus with food and water and then constrict the organ to expel the water and digest the food. As a result, only a tiny proportion of water enters the digestive tract alongside food. 

How To Feed A Turtle Without Creating A Mess?

Feeding your turtle in the same tank it lives in is a foolproof recipe for a dirty tank. That way, you will have to clean and replace the water every week or so. And that won’t just waste your time, money, and effort but also induce stress for your turtle. On top of that, overly frequent cleaning and water changes will wipe out entire colonies of good bacteria. So, what’s the solution?

Feed your turtle in a different container or bucket filled with water. Don’t fill the bucket all the way through. Once your pet turtle is done eating and pooping, only then take him out and place him in the original habitat. 

Since turtles also poop in the water, make sure to keep your pet in the container until it has excreted. My turtles usually take around 15-20 minutes to eat after pooping. 

This way, the water in the original tank remains pristine for a much longer time. 

That being said, a turtle tank is always susceptible to gunks and residues. That’s why it’s best to invest in a solid filter early on. 

Here’s one I use by Fluval. 

Before getting this filter, my tank used to get cloudy frequently. Turns out that was because I was cleaning it excessively and killing all the good bacteria. 

Ever since I got this filter, maintaining my turtle tank has been a piece of cake. 

Why Do Turtles Poop In Water? 

Turtles don’t exclusively poop in the water, but they sure do prefer doing it there. That is because water helps the turtle relax its bowels and release poop easily. Another lesser-explored possibility is the hygiene mechanism. 

When turtles poop in the water in the wild, the running water will instantly flush the turd away. So, we can also see this instinctive trait in pet turtles. 

Now that you know the reasons behind why turtles need water to swallow and how to feed them, let’s move on to another crucial topic. 

The Ideal Diet For Your Pet Turtle 

Feeding your turtle a well-balanced diet will keep several diseases at bay and contribute to his longevity. Since turtles are omnivores, there’s a wide range of options to choose from. His platter could include commercial pellet, veggies and fruits, live feed, frozen feed, and occasional nutrient supplements. 

The general practice in the turtle-raising community is feeding the amount of food your turtle can finish within 15 minutes. 

Commercially available pellets should not make up more than 25% of all the food eaten. Offer a small amount at a time to prevent overfeeding. 

Occasionally, treat your pet with live crickets, mealworms, or a feeder fish. Turtles enjoy the thrill of hunting for a good snack. 

As for fruits and veggies, you can serve them 3 to 4 times a week. In fact, leafy greens and veggies should make up around 50% of the turtle’s entire diet. Turtles love gobbling down kale, collars, mustard greens, and even celery. You can also throw in small bell pepper, sweet potato, or a small piece of squash as a reward. 

Conclusion On Why Do Turtles Need Water To Swallow

Turtles need water to swallow because they don’t have mammary glands and teeth as we do. Since they don’t produce saliva, their food doesn’t get soggy in the mouth. Likewise, the absence of teeth means they cannot chew it into smaller pieces. 

So, water helps to soften the food and push it down their throats quickly. 

Aquatic and semi-aquatic species almost always eat in the water, but land turtles can sometimes consume their food without water. However, your land turtle must have easy access to water when drinking. 

My advice would be to feed your turtle in a separate container, so the tank’s water doesn’t get messy. I feed mine in plastic buckets filled halfway. And since turtles also love pooping in water, wait until the reptile has excreted before putting it back in the original habitat! 

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• Sumary: Turtles need water to swallow their food because they don’t produce saliva. And since turtles also don’t have teeth, they can’t chew down their food. That’s why they have to rely on water to push the food down their throat.

• Matching Result: Turtles need water to swallow their food because they don’t produce saliva. And since turtles also don’t have teeth, they can’t chew down their …

• Intro: Why Do Turtles Need Water To Swallow? Do They Also Poop In Water? Eating and pooping in water isn’t something turtles do out of laziness. And although the water tends to get dirty very often due to these tendencies, water is deeply tied to a turtle’s digestive process.  Keep reading, and you’ll find all the answers you’re looking for.  Why Do Turtles Need Water To Swallow?  Turtles need water to swallow their food because they don’t produce saliva. And since turtles also don’t have teeth, they can’t chew down their food. That’s why they have to rely on water to…

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• Sumary: Yes, most turtles need water to swallow because of their non-distinctive papillae in the tongue and underdeveloped glands.

• Matching Result: Yes, most turtles need water to swallow because of their non-distinctive papillae in the tongue and underdeveloped glands. These poorly …

• Intro: Do Turtles Need Water To Swallow? Will They Choke? Captive turtles often won’t eat the foods that you give them on land. That’s because turtles need water to swallow their food. So you are doing it wrong if you are offering food on the ground or in their basking area. Although aquatic turtles need water to swallow food, that’s not the case for all turtles. This phenomenon is the result of years of evolution. You will be surprised by the revelations that you will read in this article. So let’s begin. Do Turtles Need Water To Swallow? Yes, most turtles…

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• Sumary: Yes, turtles do drink water. In fact, it is essential for their survival. If a turtle doesn’t drink enough water, it can cause

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• Intro: Do Turtles Drink Water? – TurtleHolic So, you just got a turtle and did some research. You probably learned about the requirements of turtles, such as what they eat, what is their preferred temperature, how much UV light exposure they require per day, and everything else. But now you might be wondering what turtles drink. Do they drink water, and if yes, do they drink the same water they swim in? We have put this article together to explain exactly what turtles drink. Yes, turtles do drink water. In fact, it is essential for their survival. Just like most living…

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• Sumary: Want to know if turtles need water? Here’s everything that you should know about turtles and their need for water.

• Matching Result: Yes, turtles do need water to stay hydrated and for better metabolism. Apart from swimming, turtles need water to drink. Since turtles don’t have a salivary …

• Intro: Do Turtles Need Water? (Distilled, Dechlorinated, Warm, Or Cold?) Food, space, and light are vital for turtles to thrive. But do turtles need water? Yes, turtles do need water to stay hydrated and for better metabolism. Apart from swimming, turtles need water to drink. Since turtles don’t have a salivary gland, they depend on water to push the food down their throat. Also, water helps in digestion and avoiding choking while swallowing the food. Not all turtles have the exact water requirement; it depends on the turtle species. So let’s learn about this. Turtles need water to stay hydrated, regulate…

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• Sumary: Turtles need water to swallow for a few reasons. First, water helps to lubricate their throat and esophagus, making it easier for them to swallow their food. Second, turtles absorb a lot of water through their skin, and swallowing helps them to replenish these fluids. Finally, swallowing helps turtles to remove any leftover food or debris from their mouths.

• Matching Result: First, water helps to lubricate their throat and esophagus, making it easier for them to swallow their food. Second, turtles absorb a lot of …

• Intro: Why do turtles need water to swallow? Turtles need water to swallow for a few reasons. First, water helps to lubricate their throat and esophagus, making it easier for them to swallow their food. Second, turtles absorb a lot of water through their skin, and swallowing helps them to replenish these fluids. Finally, swallowing helps turtles to remove any leftover food or debris from their mouths. Turtles need water to swallow because they cannot produce saliva. Without water, their food would get stuck in their throats. How Turtles Keep Their Throats Moist When turtles want to keep their throats moist,…

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• Sumary: Turtles take in food through their mouth, firmly hold it between their tongue and their upper palate fo the mouth and expel the water out.

• Matching Result: All the water isn’t expelled, likely because the turtle requires that water for swallowing. Multiple investigations have noted that some turtles …

• Intro: How Do Turtles Eat Underwater Without Swallowing Too Much Water? Turtles take in food through their mouth, firmly hold it between their tongue and the upper palate of their mouth and then expel the water out. Turtles have been gliding through the Earth’s waters since long before humans were around to use these big brains of ours. These ancient and rather strange creatures are diverse; some live on land, others live a fully underwater lifestyle, while some turtles like to have the best of both worlds, surviving both on land and in water. However, these reptiles (not everything that lives…

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• Sumary: If you’re curious about whether turtles can eat out of water or not, this article will let you know exactly what you’re actually looking for.

• Matching Result: The straight answer is no. Most turtles (especially aquatic ones) don’t eat out of the water. Turtles only eat food that is fully submerged in water. Or, they …

• Intro: Can Turtles Eat Out of Water? Turtles are often considered creatures that spend all their time in the water. While it’s true that turtles live in water and need to be in the water to survive, they actually spend a good amount of their time on land. But can turtles eat out of water? The straight answer is no. Most turtles (especially aquatic ones) don’t eat out of the water. Turtles only eat food that is fully submerged in water. Or, they will submerge in the water with food to swallow it. They rarely eat anything that is floating in…

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• Sumary: I have previously written about how fish, sharks and whales do not produce saliva because they are fully submerged in water. If you spent all your time in the water, making extra liquid for lubrication to aid swallowing of food does not make sense.

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• Intro: Do turtles make saliva? (Explained!) – Outlife ExpertI have previously written about how fish, sharks and whales do not produce saliva because they are fully submerged in water. If you spent all your time in the water, making extra liquid for lubrication to aid swallowing of food does not make sense.Therefore, many sea-dwelling animals have completely lost their ability to produce saliva!On the other hand, most reptiles spend their time on land and do therefore need a certain amount of lubrication to swallow their (often dry) food. Some lizards, like the marine iguana, spent quite some time foraging at sea,…

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