Do turtles pee?

For many animals peeing is an obvious action that they perform in order to get rid of substances that are no longer needed for the body. They can even be dangerous for the organism. However, there are many other reasons why animals leave urine like, for example, marking the area or using urine as a defense mechanism. Turtles, like most animals, also pee and they do that for more than just one reason.

Though I am not a PhD, I have been a turtle owner for quite a long time. As a result, I managed to witness a number of different situations and gathered quite a huge amount of data that can help many new turtle pet owners around the world. Quite often it happens that people do not see turtles pee and it makes them ask this question. So, to dispel any doubts, I would like to say that turtles pee like any other animal. However, there is more than just one reason hiding behind this action.

Where does pee come from in most situations?

But before I will flood you with interesting information and perhaps a bit less interesting data, it is important for us to understand where pee comes from. Why in most situations? Because sometimes turtles will urinate via… mouth! Yes, that’s right. However, about that phenomenon later on. 

For now, let’s just understand the basic physiology of a turtle. You see, the main exit for not only urine, but also feces is cloaca. Turtles use cloaca to urinate and drop feces. This part of their organism is a combination of anus, urethra, and gills. 

Interestingly, this tip of the intestine serves not only as an exit for turtle’s waste, but also as entrance for male turtles. Another important function of cloaca is that it serves as a breathing mechanism. Yes, turtles breathe through their butts. However, let’s get back to the topic.

Normal peeing and as a defense mechanism

The reason why people ask whether turtles urinate or not is because rarely ever they can see them peeing. If we do not scare our pet and it gets things done in the right way, then seeing how our turtle pees is almost impossible. It is mainly due to the fact that these reptiles are usually small and, as a result, their bladders are also very small. It means that they urinate much more frequently and they leave very little waste.

However, there is one way you can actually see how your turtle pees. And it is connected with its defense mechanism. You see, in the wild turtles often become prey of other predators. And as we all know, predators firmly base their judgment on whether a caught animal will be a good meal or not on their scent. So, a turtle that peed itself will surely be much less attractive for birds, snakes -> check why snakes eat turtles, crabs, lizards, and other animals.

Interestingly, this defense mechanism is quite popular and even humans tend to use it. Obviously, most often it is seen in horror movies. However, it is surely based on reality, because a lot of animals use such a mechanism as one of their defense layers. 

Sadly, in the case of turtles, peeing as a defense mechanism can also occur while in a moderate safety. You see, if a pet is not certain of your intentions, it will most definitely treat you as a threat – at least at the beginning of your “relationship”. Initially, you will be perceived as a predator who may, or may not, try to eat a turtle. As a result, peeing will be one of the defenses (another one is hiding all the possible extremities and the head to the shell) that your turtle will apply against you. 

Obviously, the more time you spend with your turtle and the more often you pick it up, the less frequent peeing will become. However, we need to remember that since it is one of its defense mechanisms, we are stressing the animal out. And even if it is to a smaller degree, we better find a quick way to accustom a turtle to ourselves. There are several things we can do to make peeing when we pick up a turtle less common.

Make sure you know how to pick up your turtle

First of all, you have to let the turtle know that you are there. So, you should avoid any sneaking and sudden moves. Once you confirm your presence and the upcoming “lift”, you gotta grab it in an appropriate way. One of the best methods is to use both hands and look for a midsection. Next, make sure your grip is firm and you use all the fingers and thumbs around the shell. Remember that even a shell is a living tissue. As a result, you have to find a compromise between firm grip and gentleness.

It is surely a bad idea to approach your turtle from the front. What is more, make sure that you don’t squeeze it too much and that you do not do rapid moves. Another bad idea as far as picking your turtle up is concerned is holding it at high heights. 

Urinating via mouths? That is also true!

According to the Journal of Experimental Biology and the November 1 issue of the study, turtles can also pee out of their mouth. According to the scientists, this may be beneficial in terms of health. But how is it even possible that turtles pee through their mouths? Well, it isn’t exactly urinating, since the urea (the main ingredient in animal urine except for water) traveled through the turtle’s bloodstreams to their mouth.

The turtles used puddles of water to rinse their mouths and then spat out large quantities of the urea. Obviously, it concerns only a fraction of species – the ones that had structures in their mouths that were similar to gills. 

Now you know whether turtles pee, how and why they do it!

Turtles surely pee and they can do that in a traditional way as well as with the use of their mouths. Although in technical terms it is no longer urinating, the very same fact that the second biggest ingredient of urine came out of their mouths is surely an interesting fact to know.

Obviously, traditional peeing is surely difficult to notice. Nonetheless, in the case of any threat, your turtle may start peeing at plain sight. This is, probably, one of the easiest ways of noticing that your pet can actually urinate.