So let’s say I had aqcuired a young tortoise, and wanted it to eventually be fast. Could I strap a weight on a rope to its shell and gradually increase the weight a few grams every week or month until I have the fastest tortoise in the world?

  • einkorn@feddit.org
    12·
    5 hours ago

    Tortoises are fast. Though most of the time they just have no reason to and conserve energy because they are cold blooded.

    Also, those fuckers can climb! You got no idea how many times we had to pick up one of my mothers tortoises from neighbours because they found another way to sneak out of the enclosure we build outside.

  • Free_Opinions@feddit.uk
    11·
    8 hours ago

    It would be stronger but I doubt that would correlate much with speed or endurance. I can squat almost double my bodyweight but my cooper test score is around 2500. A runner with way less leg strenght could easily outperform me.

  • Ledivin@lemmy.world
    47·
    15 hours ago

    The turtle would get stronger, but strength wouldn’t necessarily have to translate to speed. It might go the same speed, just more easily 🤷‍♂️

  • Em Adespoton@lemmy.ca
    13·
    14 hours ago

    Tortoises go faster the hotter they are; comes from having a cold blooded metabolism. So to make it faster, acclimate it to hotter environments as well as putting it on a muscle building regime.

  • southsamurai@sh.itjust.works
    111·
    15 hours ago

    You know, there’s some good eatin on one of them things.

    But, probably not.

    Reptiles don’t pile on mass the way mammals do. The greatest limitation to tortoise speed isn’t muscle anyway. It’s bone structure and metabolism.

    Strapping weight ain’t gonna get mr tarpin swole, he just gonna be tired.