Understanding why your pet turtle expresses certain types of behavior will help you become a better turtle raiser
This article looks into why your turtle may be opening its mouth while it’s basking.
Table of Contents
Turtle opening mouth while basking:
If you look online you rarely will see pictures of turtles opening their mouths but of course, these animals open their mouths sometimes.
Here are reasons why your turtle may be opening its mouth while basking:
Soaking up the heat:
If your pet turtle is opening its mouth while basking under the heat lamp then the little animal is likely doing this to soak up as much heat as possible.
This opening of the mouth may be accompanied by a Superman pose from the turtle. This Superman pose, this stretching of the limbs, helps the little reptile absorb more heat.
Your pet may also open its mouth while basking because it is yawning. The warmth of the heat lamp as well as being active likely made the little reptile tired.
What to do:
This type of behavior is quite normal and natural for turtles, you don’t have to worry.
As long as the little animal is acting normally, doesn’t seem to be in distress, and doesn’t seem to be ill then you can let the animal be, this is normal.
It associates the area with food:
Turtles can make quite odd connections between food, locations, and people.
Your pet may see you as a source of food and may open its mouth when they see you passing by.
Your pet may also associate food with certain locations, like being under the basking lamp, and may open its mouth once it gets to the basking area anticipating food.
A turtle who is begging for food will also make clicking noises while asking for food, this is how to know that the animal wants to eat.
What to do:
A turtle associating its basking area with eating isn’t necessarily good or bad, it is just a fact.
You can change your pet’s views about food and its basking area by feeding it somewhere else
If you want your little reptile to stop associating the area under its basking lamp with food then leave your pet’s food in a different location and only feed your pet when it is in this different area.
Respiratory infection:
Last but not least, if your turtle is opening its mouth then the little reptile may have contracted a respiratory infection.
Other signs of respiratory infections in turtles, apart from open-mouth breathing, include bubbles coming from the nose or mouth, wheezing when breathing, lethargy, a lack of appetite, whistling while breathing, and swimming lopsided.
Respiratory infections are quite a serious condition as these infections can turn into pneumonia which is life-threatening to your turtle, so this condition needs to be treated as soon as possible.
What to do:
Respiratory infections are quite serious and because they are so serious it is advised that you take your pet to the vet for an examination, a diagnosis, and treatment.
You’d need to describe your pet’s diet and the details of the enclosure to the vet. The vet will let you know if the enclosure has husbandry issues or if the animal’s diet is incorrect or needs improvement
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other turtle/tortoise related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Red-Eared Slider Breathing Heavily, Turtle Blowing Bubbles Out Of His Mouth, Red Eared Slider Biting At Air, Tortoise Keeps Opening And Closing Its Mouth, Why Does My Turtle Open Its Mouth When I Pick It Up?, Why Does My Turtle Open Its Mouth Underwater?, Why Is My Turtle Shell Turning Brown?