The tortoise is one of the best pets that you can keep at home you just need a little bit of training. Even the tortoises are mostly vegetarians so it is not too tough to feed them. The tortoise is hostile in nature and is also fine with the people around you will not face much problem while you are with them.
The tortoise is low maintenance if you will take proper care of them. There has been lots of confusion about the fact that whether the tortoise can swim or not. In this article, we would discuss this.
Can Tortoise Swim?
The answer to this question is a clear no, the tortoise cannot swim as the turtles do. So you should not try them to put into the water as they can drown, though in some cases the tortoises can swim or they stay in the water but the water should not be too deep and also you should attend them when near the waters. Only very few tortoise-like to be in the water but they do not as such swim but float in water.
Most tortoises are not kept in the water for swimming or related activities. You should not be careless with the tortoise while they are near the water. Keeping the tortoise free near the water can be unsafe for them and it can prove fatal for the tortoise. So take care of your tortoise and they do not swim in water keep that thing in your mind even if they are comfortable in shallow water or less water, do not try to put them in water.
Why the tortoises cannot swim?
There are various reasons which tell that the tortoise cannot swim because of the following reasons and these reason has been listed as below:
The first and the foremost reason is the shape of the feet of the tortoise, which plays a major role in swimming. The tortoise feet are large, solid, and sturdy and it is said that it is quite similar to the elephant feet. The legs of the tortoise are short and thick with small nails.
These types of feet are good for moving on the land and also covering large areas on the land. The feet of the tortoise are designed in such a manner that they can easily move even on rough terrain.
But such feet are not designed to swim in the water and that is why they are not able to swim in the water. As for swimming you need webbed feet or flipper-type feet and the tortoise feet are not meant for the swimming purpose. So therefore this is one of the main reasons why the tortoise cannot swim in the water.
Another major reason is the design of the shell that should be in such a manner that could help an organism to swim in the water. But the shell of the tortoise is in such a way that they are not able to swim in the water.
The design of the tortoiseshell is like a high-domed shell and the tortoise does not shed off the scutes as the turtles do. As the tortoise do not shed their scutes so because of this their shell grows higher and you can find the pyramids on their shell. This makes the shells of the tortoise heavy in nature and because of this heavyweight, it becomes quite tough for the tortoise to swim.
As we know the heavyweight will pull you down and the shell of the turtle is lighter as compared to the tortoise so that is why the turtles are able to swim and the tortoise is not able to swim. So the design and the weight also play a very important role in whether an animal can swim in water or not.
The habitat of the tortoise also plays a very important role in the water because any animal can only swim through water if they live in such a habitat.
But as we know that the tortoises are basically found on the land so the body is made in such a manner that they cannot swim in water but can walk on land. They have strong legs which help them to move on the grasslands and the forests. The shell of the tortoise is bulky which protects them from predators that can attack them with sharp claws or teeth.
The tortoises also cannot hold their breath underwater that most of the aquatic animals can and all these features of the tortoise indicate the fact that they will drown in water and will not be able to swim. So this tells us that the tortoises cannot swim because they are not meant for that and their habitat is quite different than the aquatic animals and their body is designed like the animals that will stay on land.
These are some of the major reasons which tell us that why a tortoise cannot swim through the water. So you know why it is unsafe to keep the tortoise in or near water.
The tortoise body is not at all designed in such a manner that will help them to swim through the water and you should also be careful when you are near the water with your tortoise. As your carelessness can be fatal for the life of the tortoise.
Final thoughts:
The tortoise is also a cute pet that is why they have been quite popular and many people prefer them as a companion.
You need to understand the tortoise quite well so that you can take care of them. So for understanding them you need to spend some time with them this will help in improving the bonding between the two and you will know what makes your tortoise happy and satisfied inside the captivity.
As a responsible owner, you should be aware of the things that are safe and unsafe for the tortoise. So that is why you should know that the tortoise cannot swim and you should not let them be free or unattended near the water sources as this can prove to be risky for the life of the tortoise.
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