What type of cactus is this?

[dmarcus]

We have this cactus that we are about to throw out because it takes forever to get all the prickles off and Vegas wont touch the flowers, he just looks at it and sniffs. We have other types of cactus that is either spineless of doesn't have a lot of prickles, so before we chuck it out does anyone know what type it is... Thanks

 

[Edna]

That looks like an optunia, just one with stickers. You could try burning the stickers off, that's what my grandpa used to do when he had to feed optunia to cattle.

 

[dmarcus]

I have tried to burn them off, but this is the first cactus I have seen with so many prickles...I am still picking them out of my fingers..

 

[Edna]

I hate to eliminate a plant thas is successful, but I bet where you are you could replace that one with a spineless optunia and have it thrive as well.

I haven't been out in the sticks here in WY, but where I lived in MT the optunia was all prickles and nothing else. It grew small and close to the ground and when I saw people on the forum talking about feeding optunia, I was apalled and shocked that anyone would offer their torts something so awful LOL.

 

[dmarcus]

We are growing 2 other types of optunia, one spineless and one with very little prickles, so this one is just to much of a hassle for us and since its the only one our Sulcata will not eat, it's going away.

 

[Tom]

I handle them with thick rubber gloves and wash/rub the spines off under running water. That's opuntia for sure. Perfect size for feeding young torts.

 

[dmarcus]

I may go get some thick rubber gloves and see how it goes before we toss them, the flowers started to bloom while they were sitting in the bucket waiting to get tossed out..

 

[DeanS]

GOD! What a perfect pad...flowers and everything! BTW...torts will eat flowers and everything!

Whatever you do, don't toss 'em! That's the perfect food for your beasts! It all but eliminates the need for Ca supplements...great fiber source, too!

 

[dmarcus]

GOD! What a perfect pad...flowers and everything! BTW...torts will eat flowers and everything!

Whatever you do, don't toss 'em! That's the perfect food for your beasts! It all but eliminates the need for Ca supplements...great fiber source, too!

Gonna go get some thick rubber gloves, like Tom said and see how it goes..

 

[Az tortoise compound]

Don't toss it. I use BBQ tongs and hold it over a flame. The spines dissappear quickly. You have grade A tortoise food right there.

 

[dmarcus]

Don't toss it. I use BBQ tongs and hold it over a flame. The spines dissappear quickly. You have grade A tortoise food right there.

Will do, thanks..

 

[SILVERSTAR]

wish i had that bucket.......!!!!!!!!

 

[dmarcus]

wish i had that bucket.......!!!!!!!!

I have a bunch of it in the back of my pickup also...

 

[Torty Mom]

I do it the same way Mick does. As soon as the flames hit the spines they just burn away. It happens pretty fast too!!

 

[dmarcus]

I do it the same way Mick does. As soon as the flames hit the spines they just burn away. It happens pretty fast too!!

My wife put a couple in pots and I will come up with a creative way to clean and feed the rest....

 

[Laura]

or just tunr on your burners on electric stove.. that works too.. use tongs and brush the pad across the burner.. or feed if before the spines get to much to handle...

 

[dmarcus]

Im gonna BBQ for easter and I have a large grill, so I think I will toss some on the grill and see how that works...

 

[HLogic]

You don't want to cook them; just pass them through the flame. The glochids (fine spines) and even the regular spines will burn almost immediately if dry. BTW, they are good for humans too!

 

[dmarcus]

You don't want to cook them; just pass them through the flame. The glochids (fine spines) and even the regular spines will burn almost immediately if dry. BTW, they are good for humans too!

I have a electric stove and I don't want to burn them so I figured it would be easy to use the fire from the grill to burn the spines off, just looking for a way to do it quick and easy. I am trying everyone's options to see what will work best..

 

[brymanda]

I just found the same cactus by my house. Do I have to burn off all the tiny little glochids? I just had one stab me through my gloves as I was trying to brush them off. Is any opuntia truely spineless or will I always have to deal with the little glochids?