Is a live cactus safe? Help please!

[David42]

So I just received a live cactus from a gift shop In Las Vegas. It's called a Sonoran desert cactus. It's a little thing that's in a small pot. I was considering putting it in my cage with my beardie. He's about 16 inches long right now with a sand substrate. Would there be any danger of putting the live cactus in his tank?

 

[Gail]

If it has any type of thorns then no, its not safe. Not only can they get poked but they can try to eat them and get the spines in their mouth.

 

[joea]

What type of cactus is it? Post a pic of it if you don't know. Hens & chicks are a safe & edible succulent for bd's. Thorns & glochids are bad.

http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Images/henschicks.jpg

 

[David42]

How do I post pictures on here from a phone? Yes, unfortunatly it does have thorns

 

[rdoyle225]

can they eat the one with thorns if you take them off?

 

[joea]

can they eat the one with thorns if you take them off?

Yes, if it is of the edible varieties.

Some Opuntias have very juicy, fleshy fruit called "tunas" that are harvested and turned into candies or jellies. Similarily, cladodes (cactus pads) when still young and tender are harvested and eaten as a vegitable...

http://cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus=Opuntia

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