Aussie Finch Forum

So your saying painted firetails are easy to sex and do not need live food for breeding?
Edit: sorry I thought you said diamond firetails, not painted firetails.

Any special requirements for painteds, can they stand the cold? Might go do some research to build up my knowledge.
Cheers, Mike

Cold is fine, but damp is a biiiig no no. They spend a lot of time on the floor, so damp floors will pretty much kill them.

The photo is a Firefinch (Black-bellied think) which is not available in captivity in Australia. Try google images for Red-billed Firefinch, Lagonosticta senegala. That's the one you'll be able to obtain in oz.

Okay thanks
Do they prefer building their own nests or do they prefer nest boxes?
Cheers, Mike

Not that it really matters but I think finch_breeder's photo is of the blue-billed firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata)- for those who care about these things!

Finch_Breeder wrote:Okay thanks
Do they prefer building their own nests or do they prefer nest boxes?
Cheers, Mike

Any one

Sorry i am still not getting it-when people are saying Fires do you all mean Firefinches as in Ruddies or Painted Firetails? For some reason i thought Ruddies need live food for breeding. ??

Fires are Ruddies- African Specie
Painted Firetails are Emblema-Australian Specie

Firefinches & Painted Firetails will breed without live food.

Firefinches prefer making there nests in brush or in cane nests and Painteds are the same.

I would have to agree the Ruddie would be better as Painteds spend a lot of time on the ground so unless your aviary is completely damp proof go for the Ruddie...Also I have seen Ruddies in England let out and used like little homing pigeons...so they too become very people calm..