Opuntia Cactus pads to take away..

Kirkie · 25-10-2008, 09:15 PM

I posted this somewhere else but I think its such a good idea as cactus are so slow growing.

You can get Opuntia cactus pads from
http://www.easycactus.co.uk/shop/pro...1&bestseller=Y
http://www.easycactus.co.uk/shop/pro...roductid=19795
http://www.easycactus.co.uk/shop/pro...1&bestseller=Y

They are individual pads, actually sold as food for tortoises. You have to de spine them and I chop it up quite finely. Some of mine will eat them as an occasional treat. You can also put these pads in a pot and grow new ones. The pads I got last year are now foot tall cactus. I checked them out before buying (as some are known to have high levels of alkoloids) and they are members of the true prickly pear cactus family and said to be edible.

speedy · 26-10-2008, 06:51 AM

Im going order some now, thanks

Kirkie · 26-10-2008, 09:53 AM

If you do get some, I'd recommend gardening gloves whilst handling. The spines are swines they come away from the plant very easily and they are a pain to get out. My mum was a keen cactus grower until a spine that got into her finger went septic. When see comes round and see's my Opuntia her reaction is much like a vampire to a crucifix .Hiiissssss.

janeL · 26-10-2008, 11:45 AM

I find the easiest way is to run a naked flame over it and then scrape whilst holding with tweezers. A sneaky tip I picked up on here.

Kirkie · 26-10-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janeL

I find the easiest way is to run a naked flame over it and then scrape whilst holding with tweezers. A sneaky tip I picked up on here.

Thanks for that. Great Idea. You know when you say one thing and do totally the opposite. I've just fed mine some Opuntca and now have a handful of spines. Taking one for the team you might say, if they're in me they're not in them.

janeL · 26-10-2008, 12:24 PM

LOL... Another great tip, use sellotape to get the prickles out of you hands!!!

Kirkie · 26-10-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janeL

LOL... Another great tip, use sellotape to get the prickles out of you hands!!!

Another great tip.

I was just going to try the naked flame idea on my hand.

It's a boy thing I think. Dishing out then totally regarding your own advice. No common sense.

I'll tell you what's a reeeeaaallly bad idea. Pulling them out with your teeth. They're now stuck in my tounge.

sandy · 26-10-2008, 04:21 PM

Now you and another great tortoise keeper have something in common. She did the same and had spines in her lips

Kirkie · 26-10-2008, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandy

Now you and another great tortoise keeper have something in common. She did the same and had spines in her lips

oooh don no ow much bether tha makes me feel

How do I get them out of my toungue, I can't speak properly?

madsmum · 03-02-2009, 09:37 PM

wow- ordering now- thanks x

25-10-2008, 09:15 PM	#1
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	Opuntia Cactus pads to take away.. I posted this somewhere else but I think its such a good idea as cactus are so slow growing. You can get Opuntia cactus pads from http://www.easycactus.co.uk/shop/pro...1&bestseller=Y http://www.easycactus.co.uk/shop/pro...roductid=19795 http://www.easycactus.co.uk/shop/pro...1&bestseller=Y They are individual pads, actually sold as food for tortoises. You have to de spine them and I chop it up quite finely. Some of mine will eat them as an occasional treat. You can also put these pads in a pot and grow new ones. The pads I got last year are now foot tall cactus. I checked them out before buying (as some are known to have high levels of alkoloids) and they are members of the true prickly pear cactus family and said to be edible.

26-10-2008, 06:51 AM	#2
speedy Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tyne and Wear Posts: 80	Im going order some now, thanks __________________ 4 dogs, 1 cat, 2 gold fish and last but not least 1 hermanns tortoise

26-10-2008, 11:45 AM	#4
janeL Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: northampton Posts: 1,435	I find the easiest way is to run a naked flame over it and then scrape whilst holding with tweezers. A sneaky tip I picked up on here. __________________ www.urbantortoise.co.uk For Tortoise Food, Plants and Pre Alpin info & sales Hermanns THB 2:3:0 Algerian TGG 1.2.3 Ibera TGI 0.1.0[/CENTER]

26-10-2008, 12:24 PM	#6
janeL Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: northampton Posts: 1,435	LOL... Another great tip, use sellotape to get the prickles out of you hands!!! __________________ www.urbantortoise.co.uk For Tortoise Food, Plants and Pre Alpin info & sales Hermanns THB 2:3:0 Algerian TGG 1.2.3 Ibera TGI 0.1.0[/CENTER]

26-10-2008, 04:21 PM	#8
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	Now you and another great tortoise keeper have something in common. She did the same and had spines in her lips __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

26-10-2008, 09:53 AM	#3
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	If you do get some, I'd recommend gardening gloves whilst handling. The spines are swines they come away from the plant very easily and they are a pain to get out. My mum was a keen cactus grower until a spine that got into her finger went septic. When see comes round and see's my Opuntia her reaction is much like a vampire to a crucifix .Hiiissssss.

03-02-2009, 09:37 PM	#10
madsmum Member Hatched Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: liverpool Posts: 266	wow- ordering now- thanks x

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