Cactus Question

[pinkpirate]

Hi Everyone!

I bought a pound of cactus for Petrie from a place mentioned on the boards (can't remember who know) and it is spineless but it still has the little thorns on it.

I have been cutting them off but it is not easy to do and was wondering if I should be cutting them off or if they are fine to leave?

Also since Petrie is only 7 months old and wouldn't eat it I put it in the food processor with his greens to make a Tortoise "Slaw" is this ok to do?

Thank you for the help!

 

[dmmj]

If you have a vegetable peeler you could just pit the thorns. Or you can try burning them off.

 

[wellington]

I do not remove the little hair type thorns on the thornless cactus. Any way you want to cut it, blend it, chop it is fine to feed.

 

[qixer01]

So these little hair like thorns are ok for the Sulcata to eat? They will not poke in them and cause pain will they?

 

[Tom]

The spines and those tiny irritating little glocchids, do not seem to bother the tortoises in any way. I still like to remove them anyway. I usually rub them off with heavy rubber gloves under running water. On occasion I'll burn them off too.

 

[qixer01]

Thanks tom.

 

[Dizisdalife]

I use a sharp knife to cut most of the spines off. Then I trim around the edge of the pad. When Chuck was smaller I would dice up the cactus pad and mix it in with his greens or Mazuri. As he grew I wrapped cactus slices with radicchio and hand fed them to him. He still likes me to do that, but he eats enough cactus on his own.

 

[Tom]

I have seen footage of wild CDTs just walking up and eating the plain old regular full spined version of opuntia. They eat it like there weren't even any spines at all. Last November one of the TTPG presenters showed up pics of wild radiated tortoises in Madagascar doing the same thing. Apparently Madagascan farmers encircle their fields with the spiny version to keep animals out of their fields. The local wild tortoises LOVE this idea and eat it everyday in those areas.

 

[Laura]

the burner on your stove works great for burning them off... I use tongs to hold the pad and swipe it across the hot burner a few times.. they singe right off..
or feed with.. depending on how bad they are or how big the tort!