Opuntia feeding

[Aliego]

I read on the Food and diet list on this forum, and found out I could feed my tort prickle pear cactus. Is this the tree below?? I could get this easily in my country, but I don't know how I could feed my torts with that. Should I crush it or something?? Or is it just the inside of it that I should feed them??

Thanks in advance
Alejandro

 

[Annieski]

You may feed not only the GREEN pads, but the RED friut, as well. I clean the pads of the "spines" and then cut into pieces depending on the size of the tortoise. With the fruit[which I offer less frequently], I would give 1/4 section, added to the greens and grasses during a normal feeding[maybe once a week]. Watch those SPINES--they are a devil to get out of your fingers!

 

[Tom]

Looks like you have the regular version of opuntia, not the spineless one. You can stick a fork in the top of a pad and cut it off with a knife in the other hand. Then hold it over an open flame to singe all the spines off of it. Then you can either chop it up or let them tear apart the whole pad.

 

[Madkins007]

The flowers are tasty as well!

Wild torts eat a lot of this and other cacti- field observers describe seeing torts with spines poking out of their cheeks, and not seeming bothered by this at all. I'm not recommending this, but it helps take some of the worry off.

You can also use a kitchen peeler to remove the tough outer skin and spines for younger torts that might struggle with the skin.

 

[Aliego]

Ok thanks a lot guys, I've got some prickly pears in the fridge already Don't worry, they're already peeled off. Btw, is it bad to feed them cold fruit?

 

[Tom]

Ok thanks a lot guys, I've got some prickly pears in the fridge already Don't worry, they're already peeled off. Btw, is it bad to feed them cold fruit?

Yes. Let it warm up to room temp.

Also, I assume we are talking about the cactus fruit and not fruit in general here. Too much fruit is not so good for most species. What species are we talking about here?

 

[franeich]

You should only feed the newer grown pads not the old dark green ones.

 

[Aliego]

I've got a Greek and 2 Egyptians. I don't feed them fruits, I was talking about the prickly pears only

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

I give my torts the complete pad...they grab it and drag it around their enclosures while tearing chunks off, for hours on end, sometimes.

It gives 'em a meal, excercise and entertainment, all in one fell swoop!

 

[DeanS]

I give my torts the complete pad...they grab it and drag it around their enclosures while tearing chunks off, for hours on end, sometimes.

It gives 'em a meal, excercise and entertainment, all in one fell swoop!

Not to mention CALCIUM...if they're getting opuntia on a regular basis...at least twice a week, then it is not necessary to supplement with Ca powder

 

[Aliego]

I never fed them opuntia yet, I'm gonna start it tomorrow. Thanks for the advice and the warning

 

[spikethebest]

my torts LOVE the fruit. I slice them in half and they dive right in. they also enjoy the pads, but not as much as the fruit. great find!!

 

[RV's mom]

agree with all of the above, and its a beautiful pic!

 

[Aliego]

agree with all of the above, and its a beautiful pic!

If you're talking about the pic of the prickly pear cactus, no complements to me lol, just searched on google, and noticed its the same as the one found in my country

 

[geekinpink]

hi guys, i'm very new to the site and new to taking care of torts as well.

i just got my star tortoise a week ago, i've been trying to find what she likes to eat, i found out about opuntia and i had some in my garden, i tried to give her , she bit some but she spat it out quickly, does anyone know why? It does not have thorns and i just picked it too it's fresh...

i live in the philippines where hays are not available, i've been feeding her collard greens...i tried cucumber which she likes very much but they said it's not really good for them? I've been researching what else to give her and what veggie are healthiest...

 

[Aliego]

hi guys, i'm very new to the site and new to taking care of torts as well.

i just got my star tortoise a week ago, i've been trying to find what she likes to eat, i found out about opuntia and i had some in my garden, i tried to give her , she bit some but she spat it out quickly, does anyone know why? It does not have thorns and i just picked it too it's fresh...

i live in the philippines where hays are not available, i've been feeding her collard greens...i tried cucumber which she likes very much but they said it's not really good for them? I've been researching what else to give her and what veggie are healthiest...

I don't know maybe this might help, not sure it applies to your species though. Welcome to the forum by the way

http://tortoiseforum.org/thread-5823.html

 

[DeanS]

If you have access to endive and escarole, they are the best greens you can give your tort.