Murray River turtle is also known as Macquarie Turtle, there is appears like a greyish colour and there is a distinctive stripe that runs back along the side of the head to the corner of the mouth which is a yellow cream colour. They need to have a large or even a out door pond to house a turtle that will reach the size of a dinner plate. Turtles have a wide variety of different foods in their diet such as live fish, pellets food, blood worm, earth worms, frozen food, crayfish, live plants and veggies. It is very important turtles do get a lot of different foods in their diet so they can as much vitamins in there diet but there is also supplement you can add if your turtle is not getting enough vitamins.

UVB is very important to have with your turtle setup, UVB help the turtle have a hard shell provided that calcium is added in their water. Fungus in very common in turtles especially in baby turtles the easiest way the prevent fungus in to add a fungus product like pimafix, salt is also really good to add in the turtle tank and also make sure the turtle dries out regularly on a turtle dock that will help with fungus as well as keeping the turtles shell hard. You can also take the turtle out side for a while they will love it just make sure the turtle is supervise while being out side.

• Rainbow lorikeet
• Red collared lorikeet
• Musk Lorikeet
• Varied Lorikeet
• Little Lorikeet
• Purple Crowned Lorikeet
• AND…The Scaly breasted lorikeet

Of these species there are 3 main Lorikeets species that are more kept as pet birds as opposed to ornamental or aviary birds. The Rainbow Lorikeet is, without a doubt, the most commonly known followed by the Red Collared Lorikeet.

The Scaly Breasted Lorikeet is thought, by some, to be a young Rainbow Lorikeet however once you get to know this species you will find that they are very different from your Rainbows and Red Collars.
Bright green in colour with small yellow feathers flecked throughout the breast area along with a bright red beak, these birds are extremely endearing to look at. They have an inquisitive nature and loyal personality and are extremely intelligent pets. They are easy to train and, once settled with their prospective owners, can be prolific talkers. The average lifespan of a Scaly Breasted Lorikeet can be up to 15 years or more, making them a constant companion for years to come.

Lorikeets have a nectar based diet, of which there are many different varieties available for purchase. In addition to their wet and dry nectar mixes, loads of fresh fruit and vegetables, native flowers and certain garden flowers help to keep your bird happy and healthy. As a sweet treat you can purchase specific fruit treat bars for your lorikeet to enjoy and liquid nectar to spoil them with. A high quality vitamin supplement is a good addition to any birds diet. Mite and lice spray should be used at least once a month and lorikeets should be wormed every three months using a good quality wormer.

Scaly breasted lorikeets grow to an average size of around 23cm making them a fun size package of entertainment. These birds have the ability to learn to speak and can easily be toilet trained to help integrate them into a family with minimal impact. These birds thoroughly enjoy toys ranging from the simplest foot toys to shiny, dangly toys and also mind stimulating foraging toys. These birds love their owners, making discipline a must when training. (Our specialist bird staff can help more with individual cases)

Minimum cage size should be approximately 30”x35”x20”. These birds are highly energetic and need space to move to prevent the undesirable effects of boredom. Most pet owners do work, so keep in mind the average time spent in a cage on a general work day and how much room will be taken up by toys when deciding on your bird’s cage.

Scaly Breasted Lorikeets also come in a variety of colour mutations ranging from a dark olive green through to cinnamons, mustards and lutino(yellow). Scaly Breasted Lorikeets do seem to be harder to come by now days however I personally recommend them when it comes to deciding what member of the feathered variety you would like to join your family. Highly enjoyable, thoroughly entertaining and endearingly loyal your only problem will be having to put them back in their cage at the end of the day!

They like to roost altogether so it is a good idea to have a few different nest boxes placed around the aviary. Natural branches are a must in any cage or aviary as it will help to keep nails trim. It will also give them natural stimulation and encourage good bird behaviour.

When it comes to dietary requirements, a quality seed mixture is a must accompanied by large amounts of fresh vegetables and a sprouted mix. While most finches will love to have live food like mealworms etc, Bengalese finches don’t generally get too excited however they will like fly pupae. Millet sprays can be added as an extra treat too.

Finches do best in even numbered groups and unless you are planning to breed if you end up with same sex pairings they will happily coexist. If you have a well mixed aviary and have problems with young either abandoned or falling from the nest you can happily throw the young chick into a Bengalese nest and know that they will easily feed it like one of their own. Both wooden breeding boxes and woven nests can be used when breeding. If you have a planted aviary the birds will also sometimes weave their own nest in the trees. November grass, coconut fibre, natural tree leaves, bark strips, hessian fibres, sterilised feathers and cotton fibres can be offered as nesting material along with a multitude of other items.

Breeding boxes attached to the side of the aviary should be attached on the colour bond side as to prevent and wildlife upsetting a nesting pair.
Bengalese finches come in a few different colour variations and no two birds will be identical. Ranging from a warm chocolate brown through to a light cream colour and all have individual markings. Sexing can be difficult. An individual bird can be segregated from general population for a 24 hour period then reintroduced in a separate cage. Males will perform a courting dance whereas females will generally make no different behaviour. Another way of sexing can be determined by holding two birds next to each other and checking under the beak. Males will have a ‘V’ shape under their beak whereas females will be more ‘U’ shaped.

Cage size can vary although for a pair of birds a rough size of 20”x20”x20” would be the minimum sizing recommended. Although finches are a small bird they are quite active and need more space to move. Aviary size can be made to any size you like just be careful not to overpopulate. These finches are quite a happy bird and can also be housed with canaries and some neophema species like the Bourke parrot or Scarlet breasted parrot. Double layer mesh wire is recommended for aviaries to prevent any injuries from wildlife.

Bengalese finches suit anyone wanting to own a bird. They are low maintenance and highly enjoyable and are low on the noise scale so are perfect for the apartment dweller. Choice of colour will be the hardest thing as they are all very adorable and you will end up wanting all of them!

The pythons diet generally consist on rodents like newborn mice to even adult mice, in the wild they will also eat small lizards, geckos and also frogs. Some juveniles can be a little bit bitty but they do tame down to be very friendly and docile. Children’s python’s are annual breeders and are very easy to breed, females will lay between 10 – 15 eggs which will hatch in 45 days. Children’s pythons do best in timber enclosures because the timber works as a good insulator to keep the heat in and the other benefit the timber enclosure offers is that python feels more secure and safe inside. Where opposed to a glass enclosure it can be difficult to keep the temperature 30°-32° in the warm end of the tank and especially when the enclosure has a mesh top the heat will escape. The other problem with glass enclosures the python will not feel secure and in some cases they feel as if they have to defend their selves and become very aggressive.

Pythons require very little maintenance they need to be fed roughly once a week depending the age of the python, they need fresh clean water regularly and their enclosure should be cleaned out once a week. Overall this python is an ideal pet for the family which is looking for something different and unusual but still easy to maintain.

Today, cats have become such a popular household companion, as well as still being used to control pests. There are 600 million living among humans worldwide. Each country recognizes a different number of existing breeds, though the Australian Cat Federation has 45 on their list including the domestic and part pedigreed. The smallest domestic cat is the Singapura (up to 3kg) while the largest being the Maine Coon (up to 12kg) though some ragdolls can be just as heavy. Domestic cats can live over 20 years depending on their environment and what kind of care is given.

The warmer months in Australia are mainly when cats will breed. They give birth around 60 days after mating and can have up to 8 kittens at a time. If not de-sexed, female cats can have up to 3 litters a years. Kittens are usually fully weaned at 6 weeks of age.

Cats require a diet that can include dry biscuits, canned food and meat. Plenty of fresh water must be available, milk is not needed as cats are lactose intolerant. Only unweaned kittens should be on their mother’s milk or abandoned kittens can be given a specially made substitute such as Di-vetelact. All cats must be intestinally wormed for tapeworm, hookworm and roundworm every 3 months. Kittens should be wormed at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks of age as they are more susceptible. To control fleas, a monthly treatment of drops behind the neck or a spray can be used. Ticks are a major problem regardless of where you live in Queensland. Frontline spray is one of the only proven products to control paralysis ticks (though nothing is 100%) as well as fleas on cats. This must be applied every 3 weeks. Daily checking over their coat paying close attention to in between the toes and around the mouth is recommended. Grooming your cat can help with tick detection and create a bonding experience with your cat too. Some require a brushing over just once a week but the longer haired breeds such as Persians must be done daily to prevent matting. Micro-chipping is a tiny implant that is inserted just under the skin and contains a unique code to hold the cat’s information as well as your own. It is a great idea for lost cats that may lose their collar and is a good way of proving ownership. If you follow all this basic care you will have a happy and healthy cat that will be your loving companion for life!

Australian Rainbow fish are one of the most popular Natives being kept in aquaria internationally as well as locally. They are some of the most colourful and attractive Australian natives commonly available. Australian Rainbow fish are easy to keep, breed and adapt very well to most home aquariums. Some rainbow fish like the Ornate Rainbow fish, Crimson Spotted Rainbow fish and Pacific Blue Eyes can vary in different colours, fin shapes and maximum sizes between locations.

Australian Rainbow fish appreciate the use of live plants in aquariums; especially those with a fine dense leaf structure such as Elodea and Vallisneria species. Different mosses will also always be welcomed especially while adult fish are spawning.

For those wanting something a bit more predatory, Australia is home to some of the most aggressive and largest predators able to be kept in a home aquarium. Grunters are a very popular species of fish, some with outstanding colours like the Coal Grunter and some which have the ability to grow 40cm and weigh up to 8kg, like the Silver Perch.

Barramundi are also very popular aquarium fish despite the ability to grow 44kg and beyond and can reach a size of 120cm and longer. Anybody considering keeping one of these Australian behemoths will have to keep in mind Barramundi can easily outgrow their tank mates and eventually eat them, so tank mates must be chosen wisely.

Unlike the Australian Rainbows, larger Natives like the Grunters, Perches and Cod species will be found underneath and surrounding structure in the form of fallen tree’s, rocks and even underwater drop offs. This can easily be created in the home aquarium with the use of branchy pieces of driftwood, river rocks and well selected aquarium ornaments.

Australian Natives are a very rewarding and impressing display fish and one locality of fish which is quite often over looked when setting up an Aquarium. Therefore, those looking for something a little bit more unique, Australian natives are a fantastic fish to try.

There are 3 varieties of budgerigars that are kept by aviculturists.

• Australian Bush Budgie
• Australian Budgie
• English Budgie

The Australian Bush budgie is the original species of budgies. Mainly occurring as a small green bird, naturally occurring blue and yellow budgies have been sighted. They are found over most of the inner area of Australia. The Australian budgie is an altered version of the original and has been bred over many, many years to produce a multitude of different colours. English budgies are bred for their size and for show. They are larger than both the Australian Bush and Australian budgerigar, however  all varieties make excellent pets.

Budgies are great as pets or as aviary birds and can be kept in large colonies in an aviary set up. Males seem to be preferred as pets however with the correct training females can be quite good pets also. Budgies can be visually sexed by the colour of the cere (the nostril area). Males will have a blue cere whereas females will have a cere colour ranging from a light blush pink to a dark brown when in high breeding times. Budgies generally get their cere colour at around 6 months of age and can be bred at around 12 months although 15-18 months is a more secure age.

Budgies, like other captive bird species require a healthy diet. Seed should be only a partial component of a bird’s diet and fresh, sprouted seed should be regularly offered along with a large selection of fresh fruit and vegetables. The key to vegetables and fruit for your bird is presentation. Small diced pieces and finely sliced leafy vegetables presented in a broad flat dish up fairly high is the key to maximum consumption. Millet is a good option for added benefit and is available in a few different varieties. Native branches for pet birds or a healthy selection of planted trees in an aviary is also recommended as this creates a natural activity and stimulates foraging and helps to prevent boredom.

The average size cage for a pet budgie should be around 23”x23”x23”, however this is just a broad guideline. When considering a breeding setup or ‘colony’ aviary keep in mind how many birds will comfortably fit. A 4ftx4ftx6ft aviary is generally the average size for most ornamental bird keepers. Half colour bond and  half 1cm squared galvanised wire mesh is highly recommended and if possible laying a concrete slab or putting in rodent proof measures before settling your aviary is strongly suggested, it makes bird keeping that much more safe and enjoyable.

As budgies can suffer from a lack of vitamins, a high quality vitamin supplement is a good addition. Mite and lice spray should be used at least once a month and the birds should be wormed every three months. Both of these items can be purchased in bulk if considering a colony set up.

Budgerigars are great birds that suit either the newer aviculturists among us or the seasoned bird keeper. Highly energetic little birds that, once established have low maintenance demands,

Budgies will engage you time and time again. A variety of colours ensures fresh interest and will entice children from even the earliest of ages.

Cycle Details

Nutriblend Minis

Active Ingredients:

• 17% crude protein
• 5% crude fat
• 3.5% fibre
• 0.5% max salt

Benefits and Features:

• Extrusion cooked for easy digestion
• Maintains the weight of birds at a healthy level
• Eliminates waste that often comes as a result of seed diets
• Lengthens the life span of birds

Recommendation: Ideal for seed-eating birds, specifically for Asiatic and Australian parrots. May also be fed to Exotic species, such as South American Parrots.

May be used with: Nutriblend Minis is designed as a complete diet that can provide adequate nutrition for the regular seasons. It may be used with additional supplements in the breeding season, during which the birds have higher nutritional demands.

Feeding Instructions: Also ideal as a Foraging Treat.

D Nutrical

Recommendation: Highly recommended for birds on seed diets that are deficient in certain essential nutrients

Active Ingredients:

• 38% calcium (in the form of carbonate, diphosphate and triphosphate)
• Vitamins
• Minerals

Benefits and Features: Ideal supplementary calcium source that provides a rich mixture of calcium, vitamins, and minerals to seed-eating birds. Can boost the calcium supply in birds up to three times in order to increase eggshell production, improve shell quality, form strong bones, and ensure the general well-being of birds, especially the younger ones. Powder form allows it to be easily mixed with food. Ideal calcium supplement that may be used with homemade hand-rearing mixes. Strongly recommended by Birds International (Philippines).

May be used with: May be dusted onto fresh fruits and vegetables that are added to birds’ seed diets.

Administration: 1 kg of food requires 20 grams of D Nutrical for an effective calcium boost

Interactions: Not recommended for use with commercial hand rearing formulas and other commercial animal feeds, unless in accordance with veterinarian advice.