Hi Hilary, I didn't say less light in any of my posts. I usually try to get my cactus as much light as possible... Direct sunlight if I can. Even when I'm trying to callous a cutting. In the dark or dim light, the cactus cutting will not dry out much and will not be so eager to send out roots to find more water. As for peanut cacti having short round joints... not always... just the new joints. I had one that had joints that were 6-8 inches long... some a bit longer. But look at the difference in the areoles and the placement of them and the lenth of the spines in the following pictures. The Peanut Cactus has shorter, stiffer spines than the Rat-Tail and they're white as opposed to yellow. The first is the Peanut cactus the second the rat tail. Now look at the areols on your larger pieces of cactus? And by the way, the larger size is probably more like how large all the branches should be. :-( And another Peanut Cactus And the Rat-Tail cactus Which looks closer to yours? How about this peanut cactus? Here's links to both cactus on Desert-tropicals.com. Read the description/"Growth Habit" of both. Echinopsis camaecereus Disocactus(Aporocactus) flagelliformis I still think it's a peanut cactus... Which way are you leaning now? :-)

Zach, I just saw you posted while I was replying to Liz and Mama! For me to even try to get useable pics I almost always have to move the plants to somewhere other than where they live. Because all of mine hang down below the bottom of the pot I just invert a bowl or “storage container” or something else “neutral” to sit them on while I take the pics, and then they get delivered back home! I also often try to take pics when the sun isn’t shinning (or close the drapes) which helps at least a little bit with “the white problem!” And, in my experience, flash is the worst thing you can do when trying to get a pic that actually looks like the color they are. They really are hard to get accurate pictures of them! But—if you have a BLACK one—I’d be interested!!! ;-) Since it’s so hard to tell from the pics exactly what the colors are, when yours gets big enough, I’d like to get a couple segments of your “salmon” one to—eventually—see how close or different they are. Whenever it works out! And if you have a lot of soil “without roots in it” in that planter, be sure you read all the “stuff” I just posted for Liz about Too Much Water. Until you can get them in smaller pots, be sure you’re letting them dry all the way, and stay dry for a while. Losing them is SAD! I learned that the hard way! Skybird

Without a shadow of a doubt you have a Monkey Tail/Cleistocactus winteri subs. colademononis🙂. Surprisingly I have found that this cactus can be a little sensitive to too much sun. A quote from Llifle: ”Sun Exposure: Require filtered bright light, partial sun or light shade, but not in full sun that will sunscald it. ” Last spring/summer I kept my Monkey Tail cactus outside in all day sun in a south facing yard, and some areas did get sun scald. Half day sun would work. I do think some Monkey Tail cactus are furrier than others, but imo age and stress plays a part in how furry they will get. From the looks I’d say it’s time to repot your pot full of Monkey Tails😁. Be sure to use a fast draining mix because these guys are pretty thirsty during the growing season, but just because they’re thirsty during the growing season ( Spring/Summer) doesn’t mean they want their feet constantly wet and soggy. Water when the mix becomes dry. A mix of 60% perlite and or pumice with 40% cactus mix will do just fine. Since you live in the Bay Area you should be able to find pumice. Pumice is superior, but perlite works. My hardiness zone is 9b so it gets a little too cold in the months of Dec-Feb. As you know our rainy season is in the winter. So I bring my Monkey Tail into the garage during those months. Cold and wet is not good for this cactus and most other cactus. The coolest my garage gets is somewhere near the low 40’s. I also keep my Monkey Tail cactus dry from the end of Oct thru early March. During the growing season I water mine once or twice a week. Sometimes more if it’s really hot and the mix is drying out quickly. What is your hardiness zone? You may be able to keep yours outside during the winter, but it will need to be protected from winter rains. Anymore questions feel free to ask🌵.

Update: upon further inspection I might have a Golden Rats tail cactus, not the monkey tail. Also have been informed that cutting, calloussing and planting should work fine. Interesting to note that where I chop double tails will grow...1 becomes 2, 2 becomes 4 etc...can be weighty if the cutting is taken at the end of a long stem, I assume!