Prickly pear cactus??

[zelphos]

Do any of you have the prickly pear cactus grow where you live? I'm in Ohio and unfortunately cannot get them anywhere around here and would love to grow one for my bearded dragon to eat its fruit. I've read its succulent to them and they love it! I'd actually pay someone on here to send me one and throw a tip in there for doing so ^_^ or even if someone could mail me a pad from one. I can't find any online, all that seems to come up is vitamins/supplements and different foods and juices made out of it I will pay the cost and shipping and throw in extra for someone going out of there way to do this. Thanks

 

[RandyMarsh]

I've seen them in like the home depot in the indoor plants section sometimes. I bet they could order one there for you. I have one but it's never actually flowered before, so I can't help you there.

 

[aussiefreak101]

I had a wild one growing where I lived in California as a child. I did not know they were prickly pears and picked them with my hands, the needles were so tiny you couldn't really see them with your bare eyes. PAIN! My palms were covered. So, yes, handle with gardening gloves until you peel the skin. This is just my 2 cents. You may be in an area where the local whether doesn't allow for them to grow but have you tried the more 'hoity' health food stores? Sometimes they have the more exotic stuff.

 

[zelphos]

Yep I actually just tried Lowes today and even asked if they could have one sent from a different Lowes store and they said they couldn't so no luck there...and I've heard there very prickly and you have to be careful, I bet it was a pain picking those out of your hands tho...ouch :/ yeah the weather around here is mostly cold but I have an enclosure I could grow it in...just no plant :/ lol

 

[aussiefreak101]

http://www.amazon.com/SWEET-FRUIT-YELLOW-CACTUS-1036/dp/B005IHALOA http://www.amazon.com/SWEET-FRUIT-CACTUS-seeds-1035/dp/B005IHB1YE

Found this on Amazon.

 

[TwistedTruth]

I originally bought the seeds for mine from eBay... I ended up losing them before I could plant them though.

 

[Rufus]

Hello and thank you for this great site! As a new beardie owner, this site has been priceless.

In Arizona, we have prickly pear cactus EVERYWHERE. From sea level to 10,000ft.

Our little guy, Rufus, is still pretty focused on crickets but has started to eat his mustard/collard greens.

So ... perhaps this weekend I will gather some pads and fruits and see what he thinks.

Thanks again!

 

[Chirple]

I am in Michigan and I actually just bought some from my local grocery store (Meijer). They were by the kiwis and mangoes and stuff ? They cost me 50 cents each.

If you can't find any, I wouldn't have a problem sending some.

 

[kym]

I live in Buffalo and found them at Wegmans, also $.50, but I too made the mistake of picking them up with my bare hands, ouch...my spike loves them but he looks like he is a vampire after eating them because the red fruit often gets stuck to his face. I know my grocery store will pecial order them if I ask, maybe try that?

 

[TwistedTruth]

While we're on the topic of prickly pear, and not trying to hijack (sorry), how do you go about "skinning" a cactus? Just... Sort of like peeling an orange with a knife?

 

[kym]

That's how I peal it, while holding it with tongs! It's funny because being from the northeast this is a totally foreign food for me but I love that they are cheap and nutritious!

 

[Chirple]

I just wanted to say - I just fed him one and he LOVED it ! He's not been a fan of any of the vegetables I've tried so far (cleaned up a lot of dried squash he didn't touch) - but I kept putting little pieces in front of him and he ate as many as I gave him.


I just used a fruit knife and cut it in half, and then peeled it. It was messy. Mine didn't have any poke-y parts, though, the little "nubs" were all filed down when I got it.

 

[Paradon]

You could the supermarket to order it for you, but you have to buy it if they order it for you. Have you check Raley's?

 

[PudgysMom]

So when you buy it, it is prickly and you have to peel it? Has anyone seen them already prepped and ready to go? I don't want to mess up and hurt my beardie with any of the needles if I miss one.

 

[Paradon]

Yes, I've seen some already prep and ready to go. Basically, when you prep it you wanna cut away at the skin where the spikes are, removing the spikes with it. Make sure you use a very sharp knife; it will help.