What is the difference between spineless opuntia cactus and spineless prickly pear cactus? I am looking to buy them to plant and grow for my Yoshi.
Not sure if I posted in the right spot.
Not sure if I posted in the right spot.
Cactus
- Thread starter cmc990811
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I believe they're the same thing.
Prickly pear is the common name for genus opuntia. Just be aware that there are many varieties. Some are more "spineless" than others.
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How often should prickly pear be fed? I give it at least three times a week,
cmc990811 said:
Since you're in Florida, you need look no further than www.coastalsilkworms.com or ebay user dorisviola...here's her link. She ALWAYS gives more than she advertises and the torts go nuts!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-CACTUS-PA...672?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa2e19520
I just experienced the spines in my fingers for the first time.. And I will say, for being spineless, it sure did hurt for a min or two!
Judt try to find the spineless..
Anthony P said:
Cool trick someone here turned me onto (don't recall who it was, unfortunately): spread some white glue, like Elmer's, over the area of your fingers with the spines in them, let the glue dry, then feel it off...takes all the tiny, hair-like glochids away with it!
Terry Allan Hall said:
This seems a cool trick. Spineless cactus, does it really have no spine or very few spine?
Yellow Turtle said:
No big spines, but a lot of glochids! I grow a few different varieties and my torts love 'em all.
Terry Allan Hall said:
Yes, that's what I mean. Tiny spines even on spineless ones, I thought at first that spineless supposed to have no spine at all.
My Aldabra loves cactus pads. My radiata only starts eating it recently for a small bite. Forstenii looks like not touching it at all.
Yellow Turtle said:Terry Allan Hall said:
Yes, that's what I mean. Tiny spines even on spineless ones, I thought at first that spineless supposed to have no spine at all.
Thought so, too...then I handled one w/o gloves...
My Aldabra loves cactus pads. My radiata only starts eating it recently for a small bite. Forstenii looks like not touching it at all.
My 4 love it, too, either whole, chopped up and mixed with soaked Red Stick tortoise kibble, or put through the food processor and mixed with dried greens and/or Red Stick, depending on what variety of cactus is on the menu, that day.
One of the varieties I grow has big, thick, tough pads that small tortoises, like the Europeans, find difficult to eat whole, so it goes into the food processor.
How large are your torts?
Terry Allan Hall said:Yellow Turtle said:Terry Allan Hall said:
Yes, that's what I mean. Tiny spines even on spineless ones, I thought at first that spineless supposed to have no spine at all.
Thought so, too...then I handled one w/o gloves...
My Aldabra loves cactus pads. My radiata only starts eating it recently for a small bite. Forstenii looks like not touching it at all.
My 4 love it, too, either whole, chopped up and mixed with soaked Red Stick tortoise kibble, or put through the food processor and mixed with dried greens and/or Red Stick, depending on what variety of cactus is on the menu, that day.
One of the varieties I grow has big, thick, tough pads that small tortoises, like the Europeans, find difficult to eat whole, so it goes into the food processor.
How large are your torts?
Mine are all small ones.
Aldabra 14 cm, radiata 6.5 cm, forsteni 6 cm.
I cut the cactus but not in too small pieces, I just let them chow them.
Tom said:
This website does a decent job at showing the diversity of the Opuntia genus. There may be some taxonomy discrepancies (darned if I know!) but I find it very informative and interesting:
http://www.cactiguide.com/cactus/?start=10&genus=Opuntia&species=
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