What cactus is this

[katieandiggy]

Hi,

I bought this because I thought it looked like one of the opituna cactus which I know are ok for Torts. Only thing is the spines look different. The ones I’ve seen on here look spikey, these are more furry... is it the same thing?

 

[Bambam1989]

It is a type of Opuntia, although I am not familiar with the exact kind.
If you bought it from a store or nursery I would repot it with fresh, well draining soil. I also wouldn't offer any to a tort for about a year due to pesticides and chemical fertilizers that have been used on it.

 

[katieandiggy]

It is a type of Opuntia, although I am not familiar with the exact kind.
If you bought it from a store or nursery I would repot it with fresh, well draining soil. I also wouldn't offer any to a tort for about a year due to pesticides and chemical fertilizers that have been used on it.

Thank you. I was planning on trying to create a new plant from it.

I’ve seen people plant just the pad into soil, so I literally just snap one of the pads of, let the end blister over and then plant it into damp soil? I have read to then leave it to get dry before watering again. Do you know if that’s right?

 

[Tom]

Personally, I wouldn't feed that to a tortoise. I don't know what effect all those little spines would have. Not worth the risk to me. FInd a spineless variety.

 

[katieandiggy]

Thanks Tom, I’ll try and find something different.

 

[Salspi]

It might be “ Bunny Ears opuntia “. I can’t remember the whole Latin name.

 

[Salspi]

https://www.houseplantsexpert.com/bunny-ear-cactus.html

 

[Bambam1989]

The thorns can be burned off or scraped off. My mom, back in the day would blanche the thorns off the fruit of hers in boiling water.
It is alot easier to use the thornless varieties though.

 

[Tom]

The thorns can be burned off or scraped off. My mom, back in the day would blanche the thorns off the fruit of hers in boiling water.
It is alot easier to use the thornless varieties though.

Good point!

@katieandiggy you can always burn the little spines off.

 

[Yvonne G]

I think it's called opuntia microdasys or cinnamon cactus. Each one of those dots is hundreds of tiny stickers.

 

[Iochroma]

Agree with the other voices: do not feed this one. They have thousands (millions?) of tiny spines called glochids. Very irritating to humans, and presumably, tortoise mouths.
It is far easier to handle the larger Opuntia sp. - even if they have the occasional spine, you can torch them off easily.

 

[katieandiggy]

Thanks guys I think I’ll ditch this one. It does have thousands of tiny tiny little spins they are almost like a brush, I wouldn’t fancy eating it.
I’ll look for a different one.

 

[no one]

Yes that is Opuntia Microdays. Lots of Terrible little spines!! You can also look on Ebay for cactuspads. The spineless are the easiest.

 

[katieandiggy]

Do you think if I took the spines off I could use it as decoration for my tank? Or is it not worth the risk?

 

[no one]

I wouldn't do that. Those little spines are nasty. For you too, to take them of. You can always keep it in your window. They are nice to look at.

 

[no one]

If you want something for in your tank you can get a spider plant.

 

[katieandiggy]

If you want something for in your tank you can get a spider plant.

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Thanks Debora, I have one of those. It’s a water rooted cutting that I am trying to bring on. I may try and find some kind of ornamental grass.