Other Turtle Discussion :: I'm curious about two things.

[christu]

Can turtles hear? I know they're called red-eared sliders, but can they hear? Are they really ears? I ask, cuz I think my turt can hear me call her name, or at least know when i'm calling her to the surface.

And how long can they hold their breath underwater? Mine sleeps at the bottom of her tank at times, as I posted in the photos section. Then sometimes she'll wedge her big butt between her dock's support, which is only held on with the top two suction cups and the support bar is at the top not the bottom. There she doesn't have to re-surface all the way. She just pops her head out of the water.

Maybe someone has answers, or input. It's much appreciated.

[Daniel3507]

as for hearing i think they can hear somewhat but not very good. i think they respond more to vibrations. not sure though.

turtles can hold their breath for a very long time. not sure on the exact time but i know they can hold it for very long periods of time. my turtle will sleep on his hammock with the tip of his nose out of the water.

[zoologist]

Daniel is right, they respond to the vibrations in the ground. As for hearing, i'm pretty sure they're deaf?

[roseK]

but wall-e gets more excited when i call his name

[BullDog]

They don't have a traditional outer ear, like humans, but they do have an ear covered by their skin.

RES can hear although they lack any ear opening. Their tympanic membranes are covered in skin and allow them to sense low frequency sounds and vibrations.

^ from http://www.redearslider.com/other_basic_info.html

They can hold their breath for quite a long time, though I'm not sure of the exact number of minutes. Many turtles sleep under water. When they are sleeping, they can conserve a lot more air than if they were swimming around, so they only come up for a breath every few hours.
In the winter, wild RES brumate under water. They dig themselves into the mud, and are able to take in oxygen from the water through their mouths and cloaca.

[briannashea]

they hear low-frequency sounds but that's about it.

[christu]

Thanks for all your help.

[TheComputerGremlin]

You can provide your turtle with underwater resting areas for while they are sleeping. There are a lot of easy ones, like plastic plants or suction cup soap dishes.

[mikee]

Hearing may not be the correct term. They can detect viabrations through their carapace very well. Mine can detect when I come home or when someone else comes in. I guess it is much like when we hear viabration through our ears. m.

[koreyleigh]

I have a "tree" (hahah) meant for a terrarium, a 3 pillar egyptian ruins thing, and a pretty sturdy fake plant in my tank. Where Hank sleeps on a given night (though I've only had him for a week and a half ) changes but I've found he sleeps between a limb and leaf of the tree which is quite high to the surface so that in his sleep he just bobs his head up a littlle to get some air. I've noticed, however, that when he goes up for air in his sleep he is there a lot longer. Maybe in the case of your underwater sleeper this means they can get more bang for their buck with the sleep-breathing?

If you're concerned -- which I was because on the first time he was sleeping wedged by his filter and the second night on the bottom -- I'd recommend something like the tree I have. My mom picked it up but I think it was only lke 7.99 at Petsmart The other suggestion above about a soap dish is brillant.

[Dein211]

don't quote me on this but i believe that a turtle can hold is breath for at least two hours at a time. i read it somewhere but i dont remember where

[nmbnikki]

Does anybody have any links for the trees/plants or soap dish just so I have an idea about what you mean? Like image wise.
Thanks!

[devilduck]

I got one of these ugly resin cave/log things from Petsmart before I knew any better. My turtle likes to sleep with his head stuck inside the log.
Feeder fish that I get once in a while also like to hide inside.