Cactus pear?

[Yevo]

Does anyone know if my Russian can have cactus pear? Here is a picture:

 

[wellington]

Yes, I feed it a few times a year.

 

[Yevo]

So, Should I only give it to him sparingly?

 

[wellington]

I would because it is still a fruit. I always figured because it comes from the cactus we feed, it can't be too bad. I may be wrong, but my safety is I don't feed it much.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Its sweeter than you think.
And it will stain your fingers and your clothes. Be careful with that red juice

 

[wellington]

Its sweeter than you think.
And it will stain your fingers and your clothes. Be careful with that red juice

It sure will stain.
I have no idea how sweet, never tasted it.

 

[wellington]

I looked it up. About 5 grams sugar per 100 gram fruit.
The pulp contains mostly water.

 

[SuzanneZ]

I looked it up. About 5 grams sugar per 100 gram fruit.
The pulp contains mostly water.

That doesn't sound like enough sugar to worry about, does it?

 

[wellington]

That doesn't sound like enough sugar to worry about, does it?

I don't know. Just feed occasionally and it won't be.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I don't know. Just feed occasionally and it won't be.

Any sugar fed to an animal unable to process sugars is too much sugar.
(Probably)
But, honestly. I also think that these might be an exception to the rule.
Desert species certainly eat them. And they're in the "no fruit" group

 

[wellington]

Any sugar fed to an animal unable to process sugars is too much sugar.
(Probably)
But, honestly. I also think that these might be an exception to the rule.
Desert species certainly eat them. And they're in the "no fruit" group

That's what I figured, the DT eats them. But I didn't know for sure if they were part of the no fruit. Maybe with it being so much water in it, it just flushes the sugars out.

 

[SuzanneZ]

That's what I figured, the DT eats them. But I didn't know for sure if they were part of the no fruit. Maybe with it being so much water in it, it just flushes the sugars out.

Interesting

 

[Yevo]

Thanks so much for the information. I will be sure to use it.

 

[RosemaryDW]

Any sugar fed to an animal unable to process sugars is too much sugar.
(Probably)
But, honestly. I also think that these might be an exception to the rule.
Desert species certainly eat them. And they're in the "no fruit" group

Desert tortoises eat them "in season." And the overlap between pear season and desert tortoise brumation isn't all that long. I am sure they are delicious to tortoises but they don't have access to the ripe ones for extended periods.

They are "sweet" but still need a ton of sugar to make jelly out of them. Not much less than plums that are on the tart side. (Source, grew up near the Southern California desert with a mom who did a lot of canning.)

 

[Yevo]

Wait, Can he eat the seeds of the Cactus Pear?

 

[wellington]

Yes, I feed the whole thing

 

[Yevo]

Yes, I feed the whole thing

Thanks

 

[Tom]

Does anyone know if my Russian can have cactus pear? Here is a picture: View attachment 362510

Yes. I quarter them lengthwise and feed them out once a week or so when they are available, mixed in with greens. The tortoises love them. I just fed out a bunch of them to my tortoises today.

Seeds, skin and all the guts are fine, but I wold not recommend touching it with your bare hand unless you want to learn all about the fun associated with glochids. I handle mine with thick rubber gloves. Every one of those "eyes" is a source of human misery. The glochids and even the spines don't bother the tortoises one little bit.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Yes. I quarter them lengthwise and feed them out once a week or so when they are available, mixed in with greens. The tortoises love them. I just fed out a bunch of them to my tortoises today.

Seeds, skin and all the guts are fine, but I wold not recommend touching it with your bare hand unless you want to learn all about the fun associated with glochids. I handle mine with thick rubber gloves. Every one of those "eyes" is a source of human misery. The glochids and even the spines don't bother the tortoises one little bit.

It is hard to wrap our human minds around that fact. Indeed.

 

[SinLA]

It is hard to wrap our human minds around that fact. Indeed.

100%. Can't understand it at all