GENERAL
Scarlet chested grasskeets are native to Australia. Their Latin name is Neophema splendida, and they share a family with the Tourquisine and Elegant grasskeets. Other names for Scarlets are Splendid, Orange-Throated and Scarlet-breasted parakeet. They are similar to but not related to Bourke parakeets. They are bigger parakeets, at 8 inches long and 36-44 grams in weight, than the average budgerigar. If fed a proper diet and kept in a clean, healthy environment a pet scarlet can give you 10-12 years of entertainment and companionship.
Scarlet chested grasskeets are sexually dimorphic (except in some mutations). This means as adults you can tell the male from the female by the colors. Juvenile birds of both genders will look like females until after the first molt, around 6 to 9 months old. Sexing before this time can only be done accurately by DNA testing. There are a variety of mutation colors available, often these are less hardy than the wild type and can be quite expensive.
Gentle and sweet these parakeets can be kept with other similar birds and with finches in aviaries. They make great apartment pets as they are quiet birds, offering soft chirps and peeps at dawn and dusk. They are not good social pets to interact with. Hand fed babies will continue to tolerate handling but they don’t seek it out or enjoy it like other parrots and parakeets.
As they are active and inquisitive birds, they should be offered plenty of space to flap their wings and toys to chew and play. Minimum cage size should be 30 in x18 in x18 in with ¼ inch spaced bars for a happy, healthy bird. They prefer long horizontal cage space to tall vertical cages. Offer perches in a variety of diameters and textures to help prevent foot related issues and at least 1 concrete perch to help file toenails.
They should be kept out of drafts and avoid damp as they are more susceptible to these and can cause health issues and a sickly bird. Avoid placing in areas of complete sunlight, they should have some shaded areas available to relax and rest. They should be allowed at least 8 hours of darkness for good sleeping patterns, though a soft, low light nightlight nearby is okay.
Scarlet chested grasskeets are native to Australia. Their Latin name is Neophema splendida, and they share a family with the Tourquisine and Elegant grasskeets. Other names for Scarlets are Splendid, Orange-Throated and Scarlet-breasted parakeet. They are similar to but not related to Bourke parakeets. They are bigger parakeets, at 8 inches long and 36-44 grams in weight, than the average budgerigar. If fed a proper diet and kept in a clean, healthy environment a pet scarlet can give you 10-12 years of entertainment and companionship.
Scarlet chested grasskeets are sexually dimorphic (except in some mutations). This means as adults you can tell the male from the female by the colors. Juvenile birds of both genders will look like females until after the first molt, around 6 to 9 months old. Sexing before this time can only be done accurately by DNA testing. There are a variety of mutation colors available, often these are less hardy than the wild type and can be quite expensive.
Gentle and sweet these parakeets can be kept with other similar birds and with finches in aviaries. They make great apartment pets as they are quiet birds, offering soft chirps and peeps at dawn and dusk. They are not good social pets to interact with. Hand fed babies will continue to tolerate handling but they don’t seek it out or enjoy it like other parrots and parakeets.
As they are active and inquisitive birds, they should be offered plenty of space to flap their wings and toys to chew and play. Minimum cage size should be 30 in x18 in x18 in with ¼ inch spaced bars for a happy, healthy bird. They prefer long horizontal cage space to tall vertical cages. Offer perches in a variety of diameters and textures to help prevent foot related issues and at least 1 concrete perch to help file toenails.
They should be kept out of drafts and avoid damp as they are more susceptible to these and can cause health issues and a sickly bird. Avoid placing in areas of complete sunlight, they should have some shaded areas available to relax and rest. They should be allowed at least 8 hours of darkness for good sleeping patterns, though a soft, low light nightlight nearby is okay.
Scarlet chested grasskeets are native to Australia. Their Latin name is Neophema splendida, and they share a family with the Tourquisine and Elegant grasskeets. Other names for Scarlets are Splendid, Orange-Throated and Scarlet-breasted parakeet. They are similar to but not related to Bourke parakeets. They are bigger parakeets, at 8 inches long and 36-44 grams in weight, than the average budgerigar. If fed a proper diet and kept in a clean, healthy environment a pet scarlet can give you 10-12 years of entertainment and companionship.
Scarlet chested grasskeets are sexually dimorphic (except in some mutations). This means as adults you can tell the male from the female by the colors. Juvenile birds of both genders will look like females until after the first molt, around 6 to 9 months old. Sexing before this time can only be done accurately by DNA testing. There are a variety of mutation colors available, often these are less hardy than the wild type and can be quite expensive.
Gentle and sweet these parakeets can be kept with other similar birds and with finches in aviaries. They make great apartment pets as they are quiet birds, offering soft chirps and peeps at dawn and dusk. It is a myth that scarlets do not make good companion pets. While it might take a bit more effort it is possible to have a "pet" scarlet. (See Handrear/taming)
As they are active and inquisitive birds, they should be offered plenty of space to flap their wings and toys to chew and play. Minimum cage size should be 30 in x18 in x18 in with ¼ inch spaced bars for a happy, healthy bird. They prefer long horizontal cage space to tall vertical cages. Offer perches in a variety of diameters and textures to help prevent foot related issues and at least 1 concrete perch to help file toenails.
They should be kept out of drafts and avoid damp as they are more susceptible to these and can cause health issues and a sickly bird. Avoid placing in areas of complete sunlight, they should have some shaded areas available to relax and rest. They should be allowed at least 8 hours of darkness for good sleeping patterns, though a soft, low light nightlight nearby is okay.
A little bit more on the others that share the grasskeet family. There are 4 "breeds" of the small Australian grass parakeets commonly kept in captivity. The Scarlet Chested, the Elegant, the Turquoisine, and the Bourke parakeet. (While Budgerigars are Australian parakeets they are not a part of this group, and I know very little about them.)
Bourkes and scarlets are the most commonly bred, though turquoisines are becoming more popular. Elegants are rare to find as hardly anyone breeds them anymore, which I think is a sad thing, they have such a beautiful and different sound, but their muted coloring makes them less flashy in an aviary.
Bourke parakeets actually are in a group all their own. Perhaps this is why (unlike the other 3 types) they can, if hand raised, be made into charming pets like the Budgerigars. The other 3, however, do not make (in general) good pets but rather beautiful additions to aviaries and homes that want a little something to brighten a room but not interaction.
One must also know that while you can keep scarlets, Bourkes and elegants together, I have been told you cannot keep scarlets and turquoisines together. I have been told they can be aggressive towards each other. I do not know this for a fact. I suspect if you have enough space and food for everyone you would probably be okay to try. I have also been told you can house males together without a concern but not to house mixed pairs of these types of birds for similiar reasons. Everyone seems to agree anything will get along with a Bourke or other society type smaller birds like finches for a mixed aviary.
Enjoy the following pages on Care and some sites and references that I have found useful along the way.
Please note, I am not an expert. The content within is what I have found to work best for me and my birds. Use it as a guideline and find what works best for you.