Unfortunately my gecko Icarus isn't looking too well. He isn't shedding as well as he used to and also isn't eating as much. I assume it must be his old age but I think if he doesn't recover after a certain amount of time I'll take him to a vet.
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Choosing a Bird
- Thread starter Epsilon
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taxidermynerd
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yeah, generally Petco and PetSmart aren't too great with their live animals. Last time I bought fish from PetSmart, they all died and wiped out my school of cory catfish (12 fish). They have a central water system though, so basically, if one tank has ich or something, they all do. My local fish store runs each tank on its own, and I've never dealt with a problem like that from them. We get most of our supplies from Petsmart and Petco though, because it's closest and cheapest.
Poor baby. I hope he gets better soon!
Lol, lovies tend to be very cuddly with their favored person! They do often bond most strongly to one person, but they'll sometimes accept the friendship of another human (or tolerate them). The one on his back, Termite, actually really warmed up to my girlfriend. She is his surrogate snuggle buddy when I'm gone, but he'll also hang out with her when I'm there, too. It just depends on how he feels on any given day. Some days are definitely Mama days and he won't be separated from me on those days.Wow fluffy those birds really are cuddle bugs! I thought lovebirds were mostly a 1 person bird is this true? I don't think many cockatiels would let u turn them upside down like thatI almost want a lovebird too now haha! My cockatiel is still young, she started allowing me to touch her wings for a treat. I wonder if she will ever get that cuddly haha. She loves head massages but she has a very short Attention span , she wants to play with something new every 2 minutes it seems. Wil she grow out of that lol.
One of my hens, Neutrino, has really come to trust the girlfriend as well. The others to varying extents, but Termite is the most friendly. Twinkie is a hard sell, though. He'll fly over to her just to yell in her ear and then fly back to me.
Your cockatiel may grow out of being so hyper - usually when they're young, they do tend to be all over the place. Young lovies can certainly be very energetic and pesky! Sometimes it does end up being a bird's default state as an adult, like with my lovie Turnip. As cute as he is, he's crazy and always on overdrive. When he flaps around the room at Mach 10, any paper lying around will get blown clear off the table. He has to do that at least three times before he can sort of settle. He's almost five now and shows no signs of slowing down.
In my experience, cockatiels don't quite cuddle the way lovebirds do. As sweet and loving as they are, it's just different. Lovebirds seem to want to be physically closer to people, and they're more intense by nature.
Do you have a good exotic vet where you are? (West coast of Florida, right?)@fluffypoptarts Because I never really planned on having him, I never looked for a vet. I assume the reason he's not doing well is because of the twelve hour car trip my family took to North Carolina to flee from Irma. I never got a proper courier for him and I couldn't bring the cage, I had to keep him in my cricket keeper. The keeper was empty obviously and it had enough room for me to fit his favorite hide in. He doesn't eat his worms anymore, only crickets. I'm going to the pet store today to get more and I plan to feed him as much as he wants. I'm really worried about him. I wish I'd done my research. I learned the hard way what it's like to impulse buy. I am on the west coast, by Tampa.
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My female Meyers was very bird aggressive and choosy with people, but was very cuddly with me. She could have some attitude, though. I adopted her when she was 17, so her personality was pretty much set in stone. But I think adoption is the way to go. Meet some, and see how it goes.
I've never owned a lovebird, but from what I've read about them, I wouldn't think that a poicephalus would be that different/harder. Every bird is an individual, yadda yadda yadda... Good luck.
I just left the pet store and met the sweetest Budgie, it's so rare to find a hand tame budgie at a pet store. I also saw a Monk Parakeet, he was pretty young, he tried to eat my finger as if I was his mom feeding him! I'm not too sure about Monks but that budgie was so nice.
Also an update on my gecko, the people at the pet store were super helpful and gave me a horned caterpillar to see if he'd eat it. They're super high in protein and he loves them! I'll definitely be getting more.
Glad to hear he was willing to eat it! Maybe that will perk him up some and help him recover.
Yeah I see them by my McDonalds, they're super loud lol. That Budgie was really sweet though. It's nice that it's hand tame already, I guess the employees take good care of them and socialize them well.
That's really nice --AND unusual! Do you feel like a budgie is for you?
Good! So you won't rush. In the meantime you can get to know each species. I found a list on my computer from some years back, when I was thinking about getting another parrot. I'd written the pros and cons of each. They were pretty funny, and probably incorrect for the most part. LOL
My experience with the ones you mentioned are: 1. Foster daughter had a budgie, he was the sweetest thing ever, talked, played, but was easy to put back in the cage and would be content there on his own. 2. Lovebird, my experience wasn't like Fluffypoptart's at all, clearly she does something right. I had a handfed blackhead Fisher's that just bit and bit and bit. 3. Cockatiels I am CRAZY about, can't say enough good. Ours (before we gave them away then got them back) used to ride on our shoulders all the time, Torrie still cannot get enough head pets. Spirit doesn't like coming out of the cage now. But when she does she stays with hubby at his desk for 2,3 hours at a time. They are smart and won't bite if you get their signals. 4. Parrotlets, if you get a handfed and handtame one, are an absolute joy. They're way quieter than the tiels. Unfortunately there is one breeder in your area that sells them for a LOT and they're not really tamed, that is where I got Skittles. However the new bird came from a lady who met me at the Wesley Chapel exit. She handtames hers and they are TAME. And they cost a lot less.
Keep visiting birds wherever you can. You'll click with one type eventually. I think it takes a long time to get to know birdie behavior.
My experience with the ones you mentioned are: 1. Foster daughter had a budgie, he was the sweetest thing ever, talked, played, but was easy to put back in the cage and would be content there on his own. 2. Lovebird, my experience wasn't like Fluffypoptart's at all, clearly she does something right. I had a handfed blackhead Fisher's that just bit and bit and bit. 3. Cockatiels I am CRAZY about, can't say enough good. Ours (before we gave them away then got them back) used to ride on our shoulders all the time, Torrie still cannot get enough head pets. Spirit doesn't like coming out of the cage now. But when she does she stays with hubby at his desk for 2,3 hours at a time. They are smart and won't bite if you get their signals. 4. Parrotlets, if you get a handfed and handtame one, are an absolute joy. They're way quieter than the tiels. Unfortunately there is one breeder in your area that sells them for a LOT and they're not really tamed, that is where I got Skittles. However the new bird came from a lady who met me at the Wesley Chapel exit. She handtames hers and they are TAME. And they cost a lot less.
Keep visiting birds wherever you can. You'll click with one type eventually. I think it takes a long time to get to know birdie behavior.
@finchly Thank you! Who knows how I'd do with an eyering lovie - peachies are reported to be friendlier towards people on the whole.
@Epsilon My mom has a parrotlet (pacific). He's an ornery little fellow and has latched onto my ankle before when he fluttered to the floor! Mom thought it was QUITE funny. He's very aggressive, even towards her, but she gets to pet him sometimes. 
He's a cute little guy. But we met one at the pet store during a grooming visit and he was an angel (spectacled parrotlet).
In my experience with parakeets/budgies, I've found that they're not very interested in hanging with people and don't seem to bond strongly to humans. I know there are exceptions, but that has been my overall experience with them.
In the end, it all depends on what kind of relationship you want with a birdy companion. Good luck with school, and it's great that you're so disciplined! That will aide you in your upcoming career of birdy servitude.
Who knows how I'd do with an eyering lovie - peachies are reported to be friendlier towards people on the whole.@Epsilon My mom has a parrotlet (pacific). He's an ornery little fellow and has latched onto my ankle before when he fluttered to the floor! Mom thought it was QUITE funny.
He's very aggressive, even towards her, but she gets to pet him sometimes. He's a cute little guy. But we met one at the pet store during a grooming visit and he was an angel (spectacled parrotlet).In my experience with parakeets/budgies, I've found that they're not very interested in hanging with people and don't seem to bond strongly to humans. I know there are exceptions, but that has been my overall experience with them.
In the end, it all depends on what kind of relationship you want with a birdy companion. Good luck with school, and it's great that you're so disciplined! That will aide you in your upcoming career of birdy servitude.
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Honestly my plan when I'm ready is to go to a few pet stores or a breeder, and find a bird that just clicks with me. The bond I'll have with it is very important. I'm going over to the pet store again today to get more horned caterpillars for my gecko, I'll take some pictures to the budgie.
