The Opuntia Cactus

[sherri]

hello can some give me a list of the names if anyone knows of any of the
The Opuntia Cactus tortoise can eat i went in too the garden center didnt really know what too look but no one was been very helpful and i was feeling very silly by time i came out of there so anyone can help ??

[Coolsox]

As far as I am aware, all of the Opuntia family are edible. The only problem is that some are far more spinier than others. With Opuntias, it isn't the large spines that cause the problem, it's the tiny little ones called glochids. These have little barbed tips and once they lodge in your skin they are almost invisible and almost impossible to remove.

The best species by far for tortoises are:

Opuntia ficus-indica - Indian Fig (This one is grown commercially for it's fruit)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/cactus-Opuntia...#ht_500wt_1182

Opuntia robusta. I feed this species to my Tortoise.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/A-VERY-LARGE-O...#ht_500wt_1182

The above are good starters, easy to grow and relatively easy to find. Both tend to carry only a few spines, but do have some glochids which will need to be singed off before handling the plant.

The following should be avoided at all costs. I collect Cacti, I have hundreds and I would rather deal with a plant with huge spines than these any day.

Opuntia microdasys - bunny ears. Very common at garden centres, this plant ONLY has glochids which are white, yellow or brown. The white form has glochids which are fairly soft and cause minor irritation. Yellow and brown (also caled rufida) should be avoided.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opuntia_microdasys


Opuntia brasiliensis
This plant is commonly available as a small starter plant from garden centres. AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE! THIS PLANT IS PURE EVIL! I grew this plant for many months. The spines are so sharp that they pierce your skin on the lightest contact and the tiny hooked tips mean that they get stuck. I have dragged a large plant in a 10 inch clay pot over when a single spine got stuck in my skin. Seriousy, this plant should be banned from the public.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emanuelito/1747999085/

And finally, avoid any Opuntias from the Cholla group - Cylindricopuntia. These are all just as bad, if not worse that O brasiliensis!

[Alan1]

Andy1 a member on here sells them http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...hlight=Opuntia

[ME SHELL]

I got mine off ebay, and it had really taken root now. When you buy them check they have not been sprayed with insecticide. Andy1 sells them knowing they are for torts so does not spray. If buying from elsewhere you will have to keep for a good few months before feeding as it takes longer to get rid of the insecticide then normal weeds are plants.