can cactus spines hurt tort

Hippytort · Apr 16, 2019

This has probably been covered before but do the tiny spines on cactus pads hurt the mouth of tortoise's ?
When I cut a pad to feed I scrape the spines off with a knife, Just wondering if I miss a few if it will hurt him.
I know they sure hurt me when I get one in my finger!
My Sulcata is 11 years old. He LOVES cactus pads. They are like ice cream to him! lol

Markw84 · Apr 16, 2019

I feed opuntia all the time. Has the little spines that easily get into my hands. But I’ve noticed an interesting thing. I grate it up often to feed in a mix of things. All the grated pad I mix in thoroughly with my hand turning the mix over and over. I never feel one spine from the pads in the mix don’t know why I never remove them from the pads first. But once the pad is chopped up the spines never stick again.

My tortoises are never bothered by the whole pads either, though. I never remove the spines.

Hippytort · Apr 16, 2019

Markw84 said:
I feed opuntia all the time. Has the little spines that easily get into my hands. But I’ve noticed an interesting thing. I grate it up often to feed in a mix of things. All the grated pad I mix in thoroughly with my hand turning the mix over and over. I never feel one spine from the pads in the mix don’t know why I never remove them from the pads first. But once the pad is chopped up the spines never stick again.

My tortoises are never bothered by the whole pads either, though. I never remove the spines.

Thanks for that. My guy loves them so much hell chase me all over the yard if he sees me with a pad.

Ray--Opo · Apr 18, 2019

A month ago I was worried about that also. A few of the knowledgeable members here told me don't worry. I had been using a cheese grater to take them off. The buds with flowers have a lot of the hair fine spines.
So after being told it would not hurt my sully. I was still apprehensive and still getting spines in my fingers. I finally gave it a try without removing and everything was fine. So now I don't remove them at all..

can cactus spines hurt tort

Hippytort

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Markw84

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Hippytort

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Ray--Opo

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