I've never seen a red variety, but the shape of the pads certainly does look like opuntia. Maybe it's just red because it's stressed. Looks like it may be more green down near the roots.
Looks like Opuntia santa rita
Common in Arizona, but would imagine you would see it in New Mexico.
It should be safe to feed?
My guess would be that yes, it should be fine to feed. Cactus has a tendency to help clean a tortoises guts out, be prepared for that and add more foods for the guy.
~ Never seen that color....., have seen some dying and they sorta looked purplish in color, usually they have worms eating them from inside out. We offer cactus on a regular basis.
Yes, these are naturally a purple color. There are two or three varieties that are in Arizona that are purple colored. The santa rita has less spines - usually some true spines along the edges and more glocids in the pad centers. If you overwater them, they tend to become a lighter red/purple. When healthy they are striking with that deep purple!
My guess would be that yes, it should be fine to feed. Cactus has a tendency to help clean a tortoises guts out, be prepared for that and add more foods for the guy.
Yes, these are naturally a purple color. There are two or three varieties that are in Arizona that are purple colored. The santa rita has less spines - usually some true spines along the edges and more glocids in the pad centers. If you overwater them, they tend to become a lighter red/purple. When healthy they are striking with that deep purple!
Yes. I have started to grow my own weeds too. Actually, that's the kids jobView attachment 256673Here is your tort food !