Re: A word of caution with catus pears.

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Posted by Georgia on July 22, 2000 at 08:56:00:

In Reply to: A word of caution with catus pears. posted by J.M. on July 22, 2000 at 03:07:32:

: (Excuse my English) In relation to cactus pads, these are one of the best food for tortoises, but always the spines or the stings,and specially the glochids (hair like spines) must be removed. Some spineless cactus are not so much "spineles" and I grow more than five varieties.

: Cactus pears (also prickly pears or tunas or tunos): I have noticed that traumatic problem with impactation (intestine obstruction) in humans due to the seed in a few very rare and exceptional cases. Tortoises are much more prone to impactation than humans, so be carefull. Also the very high sugar content of the fruit could be a problem in the proliferation of some dangerous intestinal bacterias like amebas. IMHO cactus pears only must be considered as tortoise food when inmadure, with the same color and consistency than the cactus pads, and clean from spines.

: That is my opinion based only in my experienece.

: Any comments welcome.

: J.M. Canary Islands

JM...your English was fine. I had wondered myself late last year and early this year about the seeds in the cactus "berries, pears, apples" we fed to our sulcata. The seeds were quite hard, crunchy, like very small pebbles. We only fed one a week and the seeds seemed to pass through. It was late in the season, so I assume they were very mature fruit. The sugar content we could tell was high. We refered to the berries as the tort's candy. Hibiscus flowers are like candy to our tort also. Thanks for your input.

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: : (Excuse my English) In relation to cactus pads, these are one of the best food for tortoises, but always the spines or the stings,and specially the glochids (hair like spines) must be removed. Some spineless cactus are not so much "spineles" and I grow more than five varieties. : : Cactus pears (also prickly pears or tunas or tunos): I have noticed that traumatic problem with impactation (intestine obstruction) in humans due to the seed in a few very rare and exceptional cases. Tortoises are much more prone to impactation than humans, so be carefull. Also the very high sugar content of the fruit could be a problem in the proliferation of some dangerous intestinal bacterias like amebas. IMHO cactus pears only must be considered as tortoise food when inmadure, with the same color and consistency than the cactus pads, and clean from spines. : : That is my opinion based only in my experienece. : : Any comments welcome. : : J.M. Canary Islands : : JM...your English was fine. I had wondered myself late last year and early this year about the seeds in the cactus "berries, pears, apples" we fed to our sulcata. The seeds were quite hard, crunchy, like very small pebbles. We only fed one a week and the seeds seemed to pass through. It was late in the season, so I assume they were very mature fruit. The sugar content we could tell was high. We refered to the berries as the tort's candy. Hibiscus flowers are like candy to our tort also. Thanks for your input.

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