Softshell turtles need air to breathe. They are aquatic reptiles, which means they spend most of their time in the water, but they still require air to survive. Softshell turtles have lungs and breathe air, and they come to the surface of the water to breathe. They can stay underwater for extended periods of time, but eventually, they need to come up for air. According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, softshell turtles may stay underwater for up to an hour, but they typically surface every few minutes to breathe.