Opuntia (Prickly pear) species

Status
Not open for further replies.

leeshis0019

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2013
Messages
8
I was curious if there was a specific species of this cactus that is necessary or if there are any species that are absolutely not to be eaten.

The climate in my area is suitable for growth of very few species and I wanted to get a Santa Rita cactus (Opuntia gosselinenia...or something) to harvest pads and feed to the tortoise. Does anyone have any experience with them?

I would get the spineless species (Opuntia ficus-indica), but they aren't available around here and wouldn't grow very well either.
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,390
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
Any of the cacti in the opuntia family is edible, however, there is a couple of them that are basically spineless, and easier to work with.

Santa Rita is a very pretty cactus and has pretty blooms, but it also has quite a few spines (glochids).

Usually the one harvested for human consumption is Opuntia ficus - indica.
 

morloch

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2011
Messages
833
How much prickly pear is safe to feed? I bought a whole case because it's hard to find sometimes. Also, anyone know if u can freeze prickly pear? Thx
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,268
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
I have several varieties of "spineless" opuntia. I tried that Santa Rita type, but it just has too many spines to be practical for my liking.

Where are you that regular spineless opuntia won't grow? It grows all over most of the country. We have a member, Len, who has even found some varieties that will live in his area of Virginia in the snow over winter. By contrast its very hot and dry where I am and my opuntia do fine as long as I water them well once or twice a week.

I also occasionally take the time to cut the spines off of organ pipe cactus and feed that too. I know that some species of cactus are toxic and should not be fed, but as draw as I have heard, all of the opuntia are okay.

And hello. Welcome. What species of tortoise are you feeding?
 

morloch

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2011
Messages
833
I hope I'm not interrupting but I have this kind of prickly pear and have been feeding it twice a week, just making sure that's ok, unless I feed it or freeze it ,, it will go bad. Thx for any infoImageUploadedByTortForum1378059883.350783.jpg!
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,268
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Those are the fruits. It's fine a couple of times a week. The pads are better for them. Like any fruit, I try not to feed those too much or too often.
 

morloch

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2011
Messages
833
Ok, thank you, I'll have to try getting pads online.
 

leeshis0019

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2013
Messages
8
morloch said:
Ok, thank you, I'll have to try getting pads online.

He (or she) is a Sulcata (African spur-thighed) tortoise.

I don't mind taking time to get spines off (will burn them with a torch and then go over them with heavy-duty gloves). He's only a couple of months old so it's not like he'll be eating entire pads any time soon. I also have a bearded dragon that can eat the pads too so it's a plus. I live in Georgia by the way. It isn't the climate as much as it's the soil...we have nothing but the clay and replacing it with usable soil is a pain and a half.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

New Posts

Top