What Do Turtles Breathe With?

Turtles breathe with their lungs. As reptiles, they cannot stay underwater for long periods of time. They need to surface regularly to breathe. If kept in deep water, turtles are at risk of drowning. Therefore, it is best not to have the water level too high—just enough to cover their legs and reach their shell. Additionally, it is important to provide a landing area or a basking platform in the tank so the turtle has a place to climb onto.