FINCHforum

On July 14, 2008 I purchased my first finches. One was a Star Finch. He appeared fine and then after a couple of days he began what appears to be panting. None of the other finches have this "problem". He eats, drinks and uses the cuttlebone. He appears to be healthy otherwise. Has anyone experienced this? What I can I do to help him?

ggyoung,

This sounds like the classic symptoms of air sac mites, although this is more common in Gouldians it can be found in almost any finch.

There is a treatment available in the US (where I assume you come from) called SCATT, which will help with this. I don't have experience in using it as in South Africa as we use a local brand, but I believe it to be effective.

Maybe some other forum members can help you to find the right product in your region, just tell us where you're from.

Good luck

PS Welcome to the forum.

There is a very good article at this link you might want to check it out, I have been using the S76 as a preventive http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/featur ... cmites.mgi
welcome to the forum

If you have just a few birds, the SCATT works very well, as you administer it directly to each bird.

ggyoung

Is your Star open mouth breathing? Can you hear any clicking sounds when the Star breathes? It is really easy to diagnose air sac mites and you will know if the Star has them. If she is sick she will be fluffed up and hanging around the bottom of the cage.

My Gouldians had Air Sac Mites quite badly (one actually died from it before I knew what was wrong) but they were in mixed aviary with Stars, Owls, Cubans etc and none of my other birds caught or had any signs of air sac mites. As a preventative I treated the flock with Moxidectin.

My Star finches appear to be panting but this seems to be their normal breathing pattern. My birds are in perfect health (are wormed regularly, given preventative treatment for Coccidiosous, and always a clean cage etc).

Is the Star active, flying around, eating, drinking etc?