What's causing this on my Epithelantha seedlings?

[MikeInOz]

It has happened to others too. Different species/varieties.

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[C And D]

Looks like a critter has been nibbling on your precious
A bite here, a bite there

[Aiko]

I would also think this kind of mechanical damage is caused by something that nibbles or pecks. Probably not mice, as I would expect the bite to be more deep. Do you have birds that can easily get to your plants? Have you by any chance also found labels taken out of the pots? If so, then it is definately bird damage.

[keith]

Insects ? Maybe your soil PH is too low for Epithelanthas ?

Bump your PH don't add the peat for these particular cactus see what happens ? I grow bokeii and others in a higher soil PH than what I think you use if I read your soil posts right .

[MikeInOz]

I would also think this kind of mechanical damage is caused by something that nibbles or pecks. Probably not mice, as I would expect the bite to be more deep. Do you have birds that can easily get to your plants? Have you by any chance also found labels taken out of the pots? If so, then it is definately bird damage.

You are probably right. It must be a bird although I can't see any evidence. Last year I had a mouse take a bite out of one and it didn't recover - rotted out.
But why only this genus!!?? Infuriating!

[MikeInOz]

Insects ? Maybe your soil PH is too low for Epithelanthas ?

Bump your PH don't add the peat for these particular cactus see what happens ? I grow bokeii and others in a higher soil PH than what I think you use if I read your soil posts right .

I grow these in a very stony, gravely mix and I use quite a lot of lime ''sand'' - which is what's left over after I put garden lime through a very fine sieve.
They grow well apart from this problem.