Cactus

[Jacob]

I Have Three Cactus Plants Growing in My Backyard, can someone
please let me know if my sulcata can eat these?
which one can they eat?

Please let me Know, Thanks!
and how do u prepare them if so,
wash them off cut off the needles, and cut up?

 

[OllieInAZ]

Looks like some type of aloe, particularly the last two. I know aloe Vera is edible but not sure about the other varieties or how to distinguish the ones that appear to be Vera hybrids. Hopefully someone else can clarify.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

I am not sure any of those are cactus. I agree with OllieInAZ that the one looks like aloe.

I will add that I think cactus is one of the best food sources there is for a torotise, we feed it often.

 

[Jacob]

i believe it is vera!
my grandpa said it is,
can they eat it tho!

 

[dmarcus]

They can eat aloe...

 

[Jacob]

do they sell the right, eatiable cac
tus at homedepot?
if so whats the name of the cactus they can eat?

 

[dmarcus]

I have been going to home depot for weeks in my area with no luck with good cactus. We just go to the local Mexican store and they always keep prickly pear cactus pads in stock..

 

[OllieInAZ]

Here's what is edible, http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opuntia

There are many different kinds - if you see it in home depot or a nursery look for the species with few (or tiny thorns). The thorns need to be scraped off with a knife and then a piece of the pad sliced off and chopped into little cubes. I use sandpaper on the whole pad to make sure all the little pricks are off.

I tried feeding my Leo hatchlings a bit of aloe - I cut it similar size to thecactus pad bits. But they took a bite & didn't eat any more. The prickly pear pads they LOVE.

 

[Jacob]

So look for prickly pear cactus at the mexican markets?

 

[Tom]

A little aloe once in a while is fine.

You can buy ready to feed opuntia cactus at any Mexican grocery store and its usually called "nopales".

Or you can buy or transplant pads from friends, family or neighbors yards. Its really easy to grow your self and the soft new pads are great for smaller tortoises.

I don't know what the other two in your pics are. The one sort of looks like a jade plant, but not quite. Jade is like aloe, a little bit once in a while is fine. I've been feeding it to mine for a while now.

 

[OllieInAZ]

They'll have the pads at the Mexican markets.

If you want it to grow it you need a nursery or find a live plant to get a pad from to plant.

 

[DeanS]

Stater Bros started selling cactus cubes in the produce section...they're cut into cubes and the bag reads NOPALES...so it's not just in the Mexican markets anymore If you want the best quality...try these two!

www.rivenrock.com
www.tortoisesupply.com

 

[dmarcus]

If you wanna grow your own and you can find a nursery in your area then that will work or a friend who has them and will give you a pad or 2. But for easy access and low price I just go to the local Mexican Market, they have it year around unlike the bigger grocery chains who only have them occasionally.

 

[Jacob]

Thanks i will look for them at stater bros along with spring mix!

 

[DeanS]

Thanks i will look for them at stater bros along with spring mix!

Since your gonna be at Stater Bros...look for Santa Barbara Mix instead of Spring Mix...it contains ONLY endive, escarole and radicchio...NO LETTUCE! Hope that helps!

 

[Jacob]

okay thanks!