Pet Buzz

Australian King Parrots ( Alisterus scapularis)  Despite their size, they are known to be among the more quiet parrot species and tend to not scream as much as other large birds like Macaws. Instead, they tend to pleasantly vocalize with whistles and chatter.  When properly socialized and motivated, Australian King Parrots can learn to talk, but they are not especially noted for remarkable speaking ability. In captivity, Australian King Parrots live an average of 25 to 30 years with proper care. Being large birds, they need plenty of room to exercise. They love to climb, swing, and chew, so a very large cage with plenty of safe toys is the optimum environment for them.  Although they generally don't crave human interaction as much as some other parrot species, they still require a minimum of 3 to 4 hours of supervised out-of-cage playtime per day. This should take place in a large "bird-proof" area of your home, as Australian King Parrots are very cur

The Hi-Tek Aquariums have a good supply of these popular little fish., and all the requirements for setting up a tank of your own. Nemo, (the clown fish) is a small tropical fish famous for its bright orange-and-white coloration and its affinity for hiding in clusters of sea anemones.  Whether you're an experienced marine life enthusiast or just a fan of Finding Nemo, caring for a clown fish can be a somewhat serious commitment, so it's important to understand exactly what the job entails before you make your purchase. Luckily, compared to many other tropical fish, clown fish are generally quite hardy and simple to care for!  Here's a link to a page that explains in detail how it's done; Setting up a Nemo Tank , and you'll be fascinated by the array of salt water  anemones and corals you'll find at Hi-Tek Aquariums.

I went in search of Nemo  and found, instead this 30 year old Giant Gourami.   What an amazing fish. This one is at  Hi-Tek Aquariums   in Brookvale.  He must have weighed several kilos and about a half metre in length. He was very well cared for in a several metres long, densely planted edges, with room left in the centre of the tank for him to swim. I am told that Giant Gouramis are no longer imported to Australia, so this was a rare sight, and worth visiting Hi-Tek Aquariums just to see this fellow. There a several other species of Gouramis available that are suited to a tank and are easy to keep. They can grow rapidly given sufficient food and space to move. Even under less than ideal conditions, gourami can grow from 7.5 cm to 50 cm in four years.  Like most aquarium dwellers, gouramis can be quickly raised with larger, more passive fish.  Gouramis tend towards herbivory, preferring algae-based foods, but will eat meaty foods. An algae-based flake food, along with free

Rosellas  are native to southeast Australia. They inhabit open forests, woodlands, gardens and parks. Their diet consists many types of native grass seeds, herbs, fruits and flowering buds. Rosellas are often sought out as pet birds because of their beautiful plumage.  They can be sociable with constant interaction, and will still retain their pet quality in an aviary situation if you spend time with them. Rosellas are capable of loud chatter, especially in the morning and in the evening.  Not great talkers, the Rosella’s natural call is a series of pleasant whistles, and they can be taught to whistle a tune. Rosellas need space and a good diet to help them thrive.  The largest cage you can afford is ideal, but be careful that the bars are the correct spacing for a bird with this head size. An aviary situation is ideal for rosellas, which will live peacefully with others of their kind in a large enough space. Rosellas love to bathe, so provide a shallow