Harvesting Cactus Pads

[kara+arkady]

Hi! I was given this starter cactus pad, and it's already growing. This is my 1st time, and was wondering best tips/practice when it comes to harvesting for my Russian Tortoise.
When is the best time to cut a pad off, and assuming more will continue to grow from this one?!

Apologies in advance for my lack of cactus knowledge, but felt this would be the best place to ask. My little dude is the pickiest eater, and he now LOVES cactus (specificallyTHIS one only), so I'm excited for this growth and to be able to continue feeding it to him.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Tom]

The best way to introduce it is with those young new pads. Over time, as they grow to like it more and more, they are more and more willing to really work on older more fibrous pads. The variety that you have tends to always make the more tender easy-to-eat pads, and there is more where that came from if you want it.

 

[kara+arkady]

Thanks, Tom! Yes, would LOVE more. William absolutely loves it. Thanks so much

 

[Ray--Opo]

Plant another pot. Don't know how cold it gets there but I live in central Florida. As spring was coming I had new growth happening. We had 2 nights where it got down in the 30's. I lost all of the new growth. Don't over water or you will rot out the roots. I have 6 plants about 6' each. All started from 1 pad each. When you pick a pad to start a new plant. Make sure the fresh end of the pad has scabbed over and dry before planting that end in the dirt.
Like Tom said, your tort can get spoiled only wanting young pads. I have grown the cactus in the yard with my sulcata since he was a baby.He is spoiled wanting new pads. I guess one good thing about that is Opo doesn't like mature pads. So he leaves the plants alone because he can't reach the young growth. My female sulcata eats older cactus but there are no plants on her side. The cactus like sand type soil but will grow in any kind of soil. Again don't over water. I never water my plants but we get plenty of rain in the summer.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

My experience was/is that under the right conditions, cactus can and will grow with absolutely no help.
I have an old story of how I cut a very large cactus down with a machete. Carried it off with a chain, cut it up with a chainsaw, then cleaned up with a lawnmower.
The results?
A brand new cactus plant sprouted up anywhere that a chunk larger that about 2 inches landed. Covering my small, south Florida backyard in cactus!
When I say that " it's easier to grow, than to kill" I'm not joking.
There is still a single, very tall plant growing against my fence that will probably collapse the structure before I do battle with it. Its the last remnant of that entire story (That started with just 2 pads) I despise it. It probably weighs 150 pounds. They are frighteningly heavy.
Now, back to what I did. I had a very, very large plant. As I've mentioned. It grew quickly. So quickly that new pads were always available. I used to feed those tender little pads with the stubby, rubbery little spines on them to my Redfoot groups. Yes, I know the spines of large cactus pads don't seem to harm tortoises, but my mammalian brain wouldn't allow it. (I also know that they are not called spines or spikes)
The Hispanic, human population here that eat those pads generally burn off the spines, then cook the pads. It's an acquired taste. Not half bad. But that's another conversation.
If anyone in south Florida wants cactus, I've got a machete.....