Tish FinchLady
Ladies, if you think Zebras are easy, think again....
They are definitely pretty, and boy oh boy are they entertaining, not always in the way you expect though.
No, they are nothing like sweet Societies.
I happen to love Zebras (hence the name Lovezebs), but then I also love Jack Russell Terriers. Some days, I have been known to threaten them with the soup pot (the birds, not the dogs).
Zebras....
Zebra Finches, (Taeniopygia guttata) come originally from Australia, but have been kept as pets all over the world for many, many years now.
How shall I describe the Zebra personality?
Territorial, adversarial, cantankerous, irascable, querulous, challenging, antagonistic, confrontational, and at times violently aggressive.
They are also pretty, come in many different colour mutations, are prolific, willing, and more than able breeders, who will willingly breed and raise a family in your shoe (given half a chance) and then another family, and another, and another.... The males have something of a song, but most of their communication is made up of fairly loud meeps and beeps (and they communicate a lot, from pre sunrise to sunset).
They are healthy eaters, needing a good quality finch seed mix, with added Canary seed, hard boiled eggs, egg shells, a variety of greens and other veggies, with some fruit, cuttle bone, oyster shell grit. Fresh water daily is a must,
They love to bathe and given the chance will do so everyday. They also enjoy swings, and artificial greenery to play with.
They exercise mainly by flying from side to side, so they need a wide cage (a minimum 30 inches across, but bigger is always better). They are no messier than most other finches, but expect to vacuume up seeds, seed hulls and feathers (especially when moulting) on a daily basis.
Well that's one woman's description of the Zebra Finch, take it or leave it....
