It’s some type of Mammillaria;). Sorry I can’t be more help. Maybe Mammillaria backebergiana. I find Mammillaria very difficult to id the species. There about ten that are easy, and the rest are impossible imo;). The same species can vary so much from one to another.

Yours looks like a ground crawler. Some Mammillaria creep and crawl along the ground. You can gradually let it flop, just do it slowly. You will constantly be trying to keep it standing;).

@kara. You’re totally right. This guy got a weak spot from the constant fighting to keep upright. I beheaded him just above the weak spot to give him a longer life.

How deep should I plant the new guys? Should I prop them up with steaks until they root? Any feedback on the type of soil (I’m in Texas Gulf Coast).

You could just bury like a half inch with spines or I’ve heard of people, who have been doin this longer than I have, shave off an inch of the spines at the bottom. So it’s easier to place in the ground.

Cut/slice off all the red.

You’ll have to let it callus over for another week, but it’ll be sturdier in the mix. Roots will come out if you shave the lower part off or not. It’s just about if your worried if it’s gonna wobble out of it’s pot or not. The little ring pieces I would just set on top of soil/mix.

No water or harsh sun till roots form. A spot protected from summer rains, but good strong filtered light. I’d say a month maybe a little longer you should have roots. Just leave it be. When roots come you can water and acclimate to stronger sun.

I have a couple Mammillaria that are ground crawlers. You’re not the only one that has kept trying to prop up a crawler;).

You can kinda tell which ones are gonna crawl even before they do. They have a look to them.

Now that I see yours up close don’t think it’s a backebergiana, but still definitely a Mammillaria;).

Some people plant them upside down to keep them from crawling on the ground.

Pics from the Google.

lol, love that last one!