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Can turtles feel cold in their water? How to manage tank temperature?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Amphibian | Unknown - Amphibian | Female

It's cold here... My turtle is kept in water.... Does she feel cold ??? Cz water here is cold too !

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Anna M., DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 30th, 2019

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It would help to know what type of turtle you have, as the best housing setups will differ a bit from one species to another. However, the short answer is YES - they can absolutely feel cold! Since a turtle can't regulate its own temperature, they are quite sensitive to the temperature of their environment, and if they are too cool they won't eat or digest well. It is important to have a thermometer in your turtle's environment so you can regulate the temperature and make adjustments as needed. Most turtles will have a heat lamp to provide temperature gradient in their enclosure.

Hope this helps!

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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