Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was recently given some Oputia cactus pads. They are spineless and I was hoping to plant them right in the outdoor enclosures. BUT, as I was planting them I was stuck with a couple of tiny spines! They were pretty irritating.

Can I safely plant these in my Russian torts pen or feed them to him at all?

Thank you,

Brian

There are literally dozens if not hundreds of types of Oputia cacti. Some are covered in spines, some have none, and most are in between. You should always scrape them off before you give them to your tortoises as a snack. If your cactus has any spines that are stiff you really should remove them.

Through not very scientific experiments I have deduced if I can get pricked or hurt by something, then your tortoises may also. I've had mixed results with my sulcata, some love it and devour it, others have no interest. Another issue is if your torts eat it and like it, they may devour it before it can even root. If you have some that are expendable, you could try to scrape off the spines, and then plant it and see if it roots. If it does, you can regularly check and scrape the spines and let your torts live around it, I've had good results with this before I found some without spines.

To be safe, You should plant it in a secure place, they grow and reproduce fast. then you can experiment with the pads. Or try to find some that have no spines. If you like the way it looks, and want it in the enclosure for aestetic purposes, you could just plant it high or surrounded so your torts can't get to it, then you can scrape it and monitor the intake.

I'm sure you know with almost everyting with tortoises:
better safe than sorry.

hope this helps.

Is the species of opuntia you have truly spineless (i.e., no big or little spines)? Please let me know what kind it is! I don't like the big spines, but the little ones are even worse, and hard to see. I've been looking, but have yet to find a completely spineless type.

Thanks!
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

on this cactus, big or small. Teddy loves these pads,
I hand feed him these. I'll try to find out what kind it is
called, I got it at Lowes this summer and I intend to get more.
They live through our NC winters.