Thanks for the answers. That's true, the spines of diguetii are yellow. I got the name from this website, the spines of these diguetii are more pink to red. http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/FEROCACTUS/Ferocactus_hybrid/Ferocactus_diguetii_hybrid_variegated/Ferocactus_diguetii_hybrid_variegata.htm I think I just take your suggestion. This post was edited by hankeat on Sat, Jan 5, 13 at 15:56

Thank you everyone for your help in narrowing down the possible species! I feel cactusmcharris' photo of his F. wislizenii is significant. I can now imagine my plant growing to look like that plant. I know that my plant is very young and its identity is thus a puzzler, but I can see how it could be a wislizenii seedling. The rib crests of my plant don't seem to match those of a wislizenii, but from all your input, I'm beginning to feel it looks more and more like a wislizenii. Personally, I think the F. wislizenii is not a terribly pretty ferocactus due to the color of the spines. But that's just me:) Oh, about the spines, cactusjordi, I had trimmed them two years ago. The whole stoy as to why I had done that is a long-winded one. I originally had the plant with three other cacti in a globe terrarium. I had planted them with their size at maturity in mind. That was what I was concerned about. I didn't want them to outgrow the terrarium or crowd each other. Originally, it was only this plant's ID that I didn't know. I only had about 4 inches of growing territory for it in the globe. I rashly identified it as an F. recurvus ssp. greenwoodii. I was terrible at identifying, then! I had read that this plant could be small enough at max size to fit snug in the globe. I would have to trim the spines of course (sarcasm, boy I wasn't thinking straight)! So I had to take the spines' extra space and use it just for stem growth. So, I cut the spines off. It's interesting. The spines didn't seep at the base or anything. Maybe once spines stop growing, the only live part of them is their actual contact with the active stem? Spines don't have a direct role in photosynthesis, so perhaps the modified leaves are just dead growth in a sense? If I had ripped the spines out at the base, I have no doubt that would have been disastrous. That would have stressed the plant badly and opened it to disease. Oh well, I'm just rambling on here... So, I guess in short I foolishly cut the spines off to get the plant to fit in the globe. The reason I had the globe was: I had previously tried out growing VFTs. I know my plant hadn't got a lot of sun at all until last summer, and with the spines cut off, I wonder if both or either one caused the stunted spine growth?? But, that's pretty much the detailed account of my folly concerning this plant. I hope it isn't permanently affected... I can't express enough my gratitude for everyone's patience and help! Thank you!!

I wonder if I can take it back to Walmart where I got it! I paid $12 for it! I'm upset! I really liked this cactus and waited for a while to purchase it! I suppose I shouldn't have waited and that's what I get for buying from Walmart. It's sort of surprising to me that it's rotting because any time I went in the store and looked at it it was dry as bone! I assumed it was being under-watered! That's what I get for assuming eh? ~Erin~

UGH! Tami it's terrible! They do just jump in to my hands as well! The worst part is that I pass by a store that has a decent selection (for this area) every morning on my way to and on my home from dropping my daughter off at day care! I always manage to stop! I can't help myself!