General Care Discussion :: Do your turtles swim backwards?

[Caphits]

Often, I see Sam swimming backwards, and for no apparent reason. It is pretty cute to watch, but I have no idea why he does it. I was also wondering if there is any reason why they do this.

[bently11]

Yes Bently does swim backwards sometimes. I catch him doing it quite a while.

[mike hill]

Yep! I feed mine by hand and I have one that swims on it's back for a short time trying to get the food. She is such a pig I am surprised that she doesn't fly out of the water. She flaps enough to make you think she can fly. m

[theartbook35]

I've never seen it. But I don't watch them every day, so they might do it when I'm not looking

Mike, your turtle willingly swims upsidedown? Wow... That's pretty interesting.

I feel left out now... *sniffle* all my turtle's do is swim forwards...

[mike hill]

the-boo-35 Yep! When I feed by hand and take the food over her head she will fall backwards and follow the food. I will admit that she doesn't stay on her back but she does until she can't catch up with the food or turn over. She is the smallest in size and the biggest pig in the tank. m.

[VanishingReality]

He does often into his bubbler or if food falls on the sand.

[trudykurz]

Barnie "dances" when I give her food, she swims forward, backwards, jumps on her sleeping dock and will flip over on her back. I'm really thinking of putting up a "turtle cam" so I can watch her antics!

[blackforces get you]

ive seen my turtle swin backwards..or just push away and turned and swam away. but i think that still counts

[trudykurz]

that counts

[KevinG]

Our smaller turtle "T" is always digging away at our medium sized river rock pile (large enough that they can't eat them, about 2 times the size of their head). Quite often T goes backwards to maneuver where he/she wants to go. It's kind of cool to watch those back legs work in reverse!