Cactus?

[QRoseC]

I know that despined (I don't think that's a word, but it'll make sense in context, I promise) prickly pear cactus pads are a good, enjoyable snack for tortoises. What about lithops (rock cactus... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithops), in order to not have to despine?

Or is there something else specific about prickly pear?

 

[Tom]

Some species of succulent are toxic, while others are not.

Opuntia is not toxic, but I don't know about your lithops.

 

[QRoseC]

Thanks!

 

[Yvonne G]

Because lithops are in the ice plant family, I'm going to assume they're not toxic. But this is strictly a guess on my part.

I found this on a lithops site:

Concern has arisen in recent years about the hazard that toxic houseplants represent to small children. Lithops are non-toxic. In fact, literature makes reference to children of several African races sometimes eating these plants as a means to quench thirst ***. It should be stressed however that any non-poisonous plant becomes toxic for a certain time after insecticides have been applied.

 

[QRoseC]

Interesting! Thank you!