Respiratory Infections in Turtles and Tortoises

Aquatic turtle on a rock at water's edge
Turtles can catch a cold if they aren't warm enough. MarcosMartinezSanchez/Getty Images


How Does a Turtle or Tortoise Catch a Cold?

The most common reason a turtle or tortoise gets a respiratory infection is due to its environment being too cold. Cold temperatures in a turtle enclosure are often due to:

  • A burned out heat bulb or pad
  • A drafty window or door
  • A fan blowing on the enclosure
  • An unusually cold evening or drastic change in temperature


Turtle On Floor At Home
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What are the Signs that Your Turtle or Tortoise Has a Cold?

The most obvious signs of a respiratory infection in a turtle or tortoise are difficulty breathing, a decrease in energy, a lack of appetite, swimming lopsided, unable to dive, open mouth breathing, whistling while breathing, and drainage or bubbles coming from the mouth, eyes, or nostrils.

Mature couple feeding tortoise at home
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Is it Serious if Your Turtle or Tortoise Has a Cold?

Yes! A cold or respiratory infection can turn into pneumonia and be life threatening to your turtle. If your turtle goes for more than a few days without being interested in food and and/or is showing any signs of having a cold, it should not be ignored.

What Can You Do if Your Turtle or Tortoise Has a Cold?


  • Has my turtle traveled anywhere (i.e. to the vet, new house, etc.)?
  • Did I move the cage?
  • Did the outside temperature drastically change?
  • Did the power recently go out?



What Can You Do to Prevent Your Turtle or Tortoise From Catching a Cold?

You should always monitor the temperatures of your turtle's enclosure. Be sure to check a variety of spots that your turtle or tortoise can get to in the enclosure at different times during the day since they may vary. You may find that at night it gets too cold when the basking light turns off or there is a cool spot in the back of the enclosure because of a draft. Correct any issues you find in the enclosure and be sure to keep your turtle warm whenever it needs to leave it to decrease the likelihood of it catching a cold.