In this article you’re going to discover why a turtle may cry
Yes, turtles can be sensitive and if you have seen them cry it may make you concern and worried
So the question is – why is my turtle crying
Turtles do cry. This is very normal and healthy for turtles. It is by crying that these turtles clean their eyes. They need to cry to get rid of the salts in their eyes and bodies. They do it more often than we think. We only see them crying when they are laying eggs because that is the only time they get out of water. Even when they are in the water, they do cry.
Let’s get into more detail about why turtles cry
What does it mean when turtles cry?
Turtles do not cry like humans or other animals. They also do not shed tears when they are hurt, sad, or emotional. There is a scientific reason for this behavior.
Marine turtles spend a lot of time in the ocean. Saltwater makes its way into their bodies through drinking seawater.
Turtles cannot urinate because they lack a kidney.
They rely on secretions from their eyes to flush away excess salt.
Tears contain sodium chloride, which helps remove this waste product.
So turtles do not cry for the same reason us humans cry
It’s actually a good thing they cry
It’s good for them
There’s nothing to worry about if you see your turtle crying
Do turtles make crying noises?
Yes, they certainly do.
Crying is a natural response of reptiles to deal with discomfort.
Like us, turtles experience emotions and feelings such as fear, happiness, sadness, anger and depression.
Just like us, turtles need love, affection and attention.
Unfortunately, unlike human beings, turtles cannot talk or communicate directly with us.
However, they often express themselves non-verbally through vocalizations, body movements, and changing habitats.
Turtle behaviorists believe that turtles’ cries consist mostly of distress calls, meaning that they call out when suffering physical harm or psychological imbalance.
Other researchers claim that these sounds may simply represent mating calls or territorial threats.
Whatever the case, it is clear that turtles respond emotionally to their surroundings and circumstances.
How do you know if a turtle is sad? Signs to look out for
To determine whether your turtle is really hurting, here are some signs to keep in mind:
If you hear repeated clicking sounds that increase rapidly, this indicates that your turtle is trying to break free.
Clicking is probably the result of rapid leg motion.
A constant loud whirring or buzzing sound coming from your turtle suggests that it is attempting to swim away.
Your turtle may turn itself upside down. (Related article – Can turtles die from being upside down?)
This is usually only done when the turtle wants to escape from danger.
You should always watch your turtle closely whenever it appears distressed.
Pay close attention to its breathing patterns and heartbeat.
If you observe abnormal behaviors, seek immediate medical care.
Do Tortoises Cry?
Tortoises will also cry but not as much as the sea turtles.
The tortoises on land also have to take care of their eyes.
It is some sort of protection from whatever gets in the eyes.
On land, there are so many dust particles in the air, and this does get in the eyes of these tortoises.
To get rid of the sand and dust particles, they cry.
There is also another reason why tortoises will cry.
They can do it to protect themselves from the dry climate, the wind, and other climatic conditions.
They need to protect their eyes and keep them wet every time.
This shows how important crying is to tortoises and not only to tortoises but also turtles.
People will often mistake their crying to some sort of pain or sadness.
Well, this is not the case.
Turtles cannot be sad or happy.
Turtles shed tears because they do not have enough salt in their bodies.
Their kidneys are not very effective at removing excess salt, so they must excrete it through their tear ducts.
This helps to remove any dirt that gets stuck in their eyes.
