Can you gently scrape it off? Or is it scaring? Have you contacted the seller?

@Sans2014 i can scrape off a couple of them, but not majority of them. I thought they were scars, but then I read about fungus / mould looking like this on cacti, so I’m a little confused. And I did contact them, so they refunded me, but didn’t say what it was. So I’m not sure if I should keep it or just throw it out to not get any of my other plants ill

I do not know what it is. Can you Isolate the plant? If mine I would try a Qtip and alcohol ( I know alcohol is hard to come by now days) or mouth wash. I was told that mouth wash has a chemical that acts like an insecticide and possibly fungicide- I have been using dollar store mouth wash on some darn mealy bugs- with mixed results. Don't soak the plant, just daub those spots and see if it helps.

If you can't isolate are you in a warm area that you can put it outside?

Looks like normal scarring as the pads age. The lower part of my oldest plant is all scarred and lignified as it forms a solid trunk to support the plant. I have not had fungi on this plant over decades of growing them so I don't think this is a likely cause.

@Sans2014 @s g hi both and thanks for your previous help. I just wanted to ask you one more question. I noticed these weird hard white pellets on the cactus as well. they kind of look like insects , but at the same time I can't see any body parts. Do you happen to know what they could be?

They don't look normal. Do they remove easily? If so, treat them as an insect and spray them with insecticide. It is difficult to be sure from the photos. Are you able to see them with a magnifying glass to determine if they are an insect or not?

@s g I don't have a magnifying glass, unfortunately. but they do remove easily and I can't see them move really. While they seem to be spreading I haven't seen the individual pellets move

That looks like a scale infestation, Maja.

I would agree, the second plant definitely looks like scale or mealybugs, and a pretty severe infestation as well. I would spray off (maybe using a soft toothbrush as well) and then spray with a mixture of water and 70% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), either 2:1 or 4:1 you want to be cautious, and a few drops of dish soap or insecticidal soap. Some people will use neem oil or insecticidal soap, but I think that stuff is messy and smelly and I don’t like using it indoors. You also have to keep plants out of direct sun for a while if you use anything with oil because they can burn. Try and remove all the scale if possible. They shpuld be pretty easy to scrape off or brush off with a little effort, mainly around the spines. keep the cactus away from your other plants because they can spread. If youre not super attached to it it might be worth tossing, but if You’re diligent and repeat this every week for a month or so you can probably save it thought it will need some recovery time. Good luck!

you should contact your seller.. and demand a new plant. that does not have scale ... and if they refuse.. talk with your county extension office about them shipping unclean stock ... presuming you are in the states .... in the alternative.. ask for a refund or cancel payment on a card ....

and then.. try fixing it yourself ... if you care to..

research your sellers.. before ordering.. especially if you are bargain hunting ...

most scale is plant specific.. and you say this is your first cactus ... so odds are.. it wont infect other plants .. but if you have a collection of plants.. why risk it ... i would throw it away ....

i am talking about the white flecks.. not the brown scarring.....

HEY ..!!!.. this is 4 months old.. oh well on just receiving it.. lol ...

what did happen???

ken