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Hi i'm just curious about this thing:

My turtle, when she sleeps (this is only on land, haven't seen it in water yet), sometimes sticks out her neck and turns it to one side, almost at a 90 degree angle.

This is normal? I have heard of some turtles whose necks stick out sideways naturally but i'm not sure about RES. I'm paranoid that it might be some neck problems like how humans have neck problems, so i wanted to check if anyone else has seen their turtle like this?

Thanks!

mines kinda do that also. but its hard to se them in action because of how shy they are bt last time they did that was 3 months ago but recently they just poke their snouts out the water and hang onto something to sleep on

D-on -- Unless it is very extreme they do turn their heads to the side try and lay it on the basking area. If you can get a photo, that would be helpful. It is probably ok. m.

They can sleep underwarter can't they?

My res sleeps with her neck out to the side and curved down onto the dock when she sleeps on it. I just think the like thier head out of the shell and its comfy for them maybe. She does it a lot but other times wont so I dont think its anything to worry about... I mean look at the funky way we sleep or cats sleep lol.

That's what my female does too.



Certainly doesn't look comfy, but what do we humans know?

Thanks for all the replies! now i'll reply to some:

@ mikee - i'll try to get a pic because sometimes, when she stretches out her neck, like for basking, it turns quite drastically to one side, instead of being out straight. I'l get one by tonight probably.

meowlacy - yeah they can but they prefer to at least to be holding on to something that stables them. Otherwise they'll just sink and have to swim up every so often for air (which is probably very tiring/annoying while you're asleep)

Bulldog - yeap mine does something like that but more extreme

EDIT: Well she didn't do it again last night so i couldn't photograph her. I saw some pictures of turtles turning sideways while basking so i'm gonna assume it's normal. Thanks a lot again