means a group of novice traders richard dennis trained in 1983 using a strict rule-based trend-following system, to settle a bet with his partner about whether trading skill could be taught.

from richard dennis, a legendary commodities trader, argued with his partner william eckhardt over nature versus nurture in trading success. dennis said he could take ordinary people, teach them his rules, and turn them into millionaires. he named them after seeing turtle farms in singapore and deciding he could grow traders as fast as turtles grow there.