Breath holding?

[greeks]

Hi everyone

I've noticed that one of my little girls, Eek, will drop her head underwater during her bath and stay like that for what seems like forever - and she actually tucks her head inside her shell a little and just sits there with her nose underwater. The others will dip their heads too, but usually come right back up. It made me wonder how long a Greek can actually hold its breath? I've heard that it can be many several minutes. Any observations?

 

[Yvonne G]

Tortoises drink through their mouth plus through their nose. And YES! they can hold their breath for a very long time.

I took one of my tortoises to the vet to have a nose abscess lanced and had to take her home again because she wouldn't breathe when the vet put the anesthesia nose cone over her face.