red billed fire finches

[lovezebs]

I have a question to the wise. I may have the opportunity of acquiring 2 male red billed fire tails. So far I have only seen pictures and they look lovely. They are supposed to be 1.5 years old and he wants $40.00 each. Now my question is, is that old for a firefinch? Is it a reasonable price? And most of all, are they very difficult to keep aand can they be kept with canary, zebras and societies? Please let me know what you all think asap, cause I dont think they will be available for long. Thanks much.

[Sally]

I don't know anything about keeping finches with canaries, as I have no experience with canaries. I would not keep them with Zebras. Red-billed Fire finches are very passive little birds, and I fear the Zebras would bully them. They would probably be OK with Societies. Like most waxbills, they don't have a long life span, but 1.5 years is still young enough. They are probably good for breeding through age 5, and then they will still live for some years, but not be fertile. $40 each is a reasonable price, if you are sure of their age.

[lovezebs]

Thanks for response. I have no way of knowing how old they are other than taking the chaps' word on t. Frm picture, I can't tell if they are banded or not. He is also selling two female orange faced stars, but I'm not interested in females for my all male flight. Can you imagine? But those two firetail boys... O so tempting. Will have to go and look at them I guess. Who am I kidding? We all know what that means. Sigh:-D.

[Sally]

But those two firetail boys... O so tempting. Will have to go and look at them I guess. Who am I kidding? We all know what that means. Sigh:-D.

Are they Red-billed Fire finches or Diamond Firetails? If they are Firetails, then it would be a whole different scenario, they are more aggressive I believe, though I have no experience with them.

[lovezebs]

Oops sorry. They are red billed firefinches. Havent gone to see them yet, weather here has been too miserable.