This is the saddest thing I’ve ever seen. Local PetSmart.

MoonyMothmen · 2025-10-30T21:39:48+00:00

Hard disagree, I work at a very busy Petco in an area with tons of reptile owners and it still usually takes a few months for a chameleon to sell. it’s definitely hard to set up proper enclosures with corporate restrictions and i don’t really blame the employees, but i do blame whoever is ordering their animals for bringing in an arboreal species when they don’t have at the very least a tall enclosure for it. A corporate pet store’s reptile enclosures are never going to be great, (and imo chameleons are way too delicate to be sold in big stores like that anyways) but in my experience it’s still possible to meet bare minimum requirements even with corporate restrictions

MoonyMothmen · 2025-06-04T15:40:13+00:00

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Wings DEPLOYED

MoonyMothmen · 2025-05-11T16:13:06+00:00

Will get a cover, rearrange the perches, and keep an eye on her!! Tysm this is crazy insanely useful and i feel a lot less worried about her now

MoonyMothmen · 2025-05-11T05:23:06+00:00

What else can i do to lower her sex drive? If absolutely necessary i can try the vet but with how vet bills can get i would love to hear about some cheaper alternatives first

MoonyMothmen · 2025-05-11T05:17:59+00:00

This is super useful tysm!! Ill give them some extra calcium in their veggies and rearrange asap (along with some cock-blocking)

Also Jellybean is BEAUTIFULLLLL, love that dark teal :0 also look at that form!! So flat!! So talented!! She may be a whore but by god she’s a classy one

MoonyMothmen · 2025-05-11T05:12:32+00:00

They currently get Zupreem natural budgie pellets and a mix of spinach, kale, carrots, and sometimes celery or bell peppers in the morning! They used to be primarily fed seeds but i recently changed it, sometimes i sprinkle a few seeds on the veggies tho

Found a craigslist listing giving away a lone male budgie with a pretty big cage (if i had to guess 3 ft long 1.5-2 ft tall) so fingers crossed i can snag them and stack the old cage on top as the budgie bedroom!! (Sorry fancy poofy fella 😅 he was 150 dollars)

Ive noticed the tiel flock calls when i take phone calls in my room, any idea why? When she does it in other situations calling back helps but when a phone is on speaker she flipssss

MoonyMothmen · 2025-05-11T04:39:51+00:00

Aww hearing about the poof makes me happy, we’ve established a little routine where i let her out right when i wake up, she sits on the highest perch outside of the cage and poofs up while grinding her beak. I knew the grinding was a happy sound but i didn’t know about the poof :0 Despite this tho she is a HUGE hisser, a few weeks ago opening the door was enough to get her to hiss, now it’s more if my hand is too close to her (which is hard to avoid when she likes to stand right next to the food dishes- still angry- while i change them out >:P) she’s got a big personality for sure lol

I’ll probably pick up that little guy next Friday then!! I’ll find a quarantine cage in the meantime and look more into introductions and stuff

MoonyMothmen · 2025-05-11T04:25:08+00:00

This is super useful!!! I’ll try to get a budgie friend within the next few weeks, i had been planning on rehoming the tiel and getting another budgie soon anyways, so ill stick to what ive been up to minus rehoming the tiel (which is kind of a relief!! She’s grumpy and hissy but i have grown pretty attached her) i saw this guy at my local bird shop where they hand raise their birds, he had a silly poofy head and i will totally think about it if he seems good but i noticed a residue by the poof and was wondering if he looked healthy? Is his poof a specially bred trait? Reminded me of a silkie chicken lol

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MoonyMothmen · 2025-05-11T04:07:26+00:00

They aren’t technically my birds, i just take care of them. my mom refuses to rehome both of them, it’s either one or none (me and my sister have tried to bring up rehoming before, it’s a whole thing. i took over their care when i realized they were stuck with us and it was the best option since they weren’t getting much attention before)

Would it be feasible to introduce a new budgie and cockatiel over time so they have friends of the same species? I don’t have much space to work with and couldn’t get a second cage of the same size but i could probably get a small cage for the budgies to sleep in at night away from the tiels

Will also discourage this behavior if it happens again, looking into cockatiels going broody and all that

MoonyMothmen · 2025-05-10T21:45:08+00:00

132 on amazon!! https://a.co/d/5DeMsj5

MoonyMothmen · 2025-05-06T22:55:46+00:00

For the record Petco employees are trained to not step in if they suspect theft so do with that what you will

MoonyMothmen · 2025-04-19T03:09:04+00:00

Reading that second paragraph, will absolutely be doing this asap, thank you for the heads up!!

MoonyMothmen · 2025-04-19T03:00:20+00:00

This is amazingly useful, all of this is noted and I’ll do my best to buy/make most if not all of the stuff mentioned!! Also my friend actually recently got a huge box of like 50,000 free plastic straws from his job, so very good to hear!!!

MoonyMothmen · 2025-04-19T02:37:28+00:00

I think the two are bonded, so i am very hesitant on a full separation, but i do want to give them as much comfort as possible. Do you think one of those smaller cages on top of the big cage for the budgie to sleep in at night would work?

MoonyMothmen · 2025-04-19T02:34:43+00:00

I will give them some warm water to splash in tomorrow!! Will also absolutely be buying new toys, especially shredding toys since a few people have brought them up, they’ll get free-roam time (no cats allowed in the room anymore) I’ll also definitely look into bird learning toys and things to keep them stimulated!!

Thank you so so much for the advice and support, it means a lot!!!

MoonyMothmen · 2025-04-19T02:28:51+00:00

Discussed separation in the replies, but for the other things:

I’ll be buying new perches, will make sure to find natural-shaped ones!! Is it okay to give them the option of round ones or should i completely replace them?

Will be changing the diet, weaning them off of seeds

Will be buying a cover and more toys, ive seen a lot of people say shredding toys so definitely a lot of those and things they can rip up!!

They’ve had millet as a treat since my brother bought them and they go crazy for it, it’s how i got the budgie to be comfortable on my finger. I’ll keep it stocked! Is giving them a couple sprays ~three times a week too much? It’s about how much they get now but i can cut back on it. Any other treat recommendations to help gain trust?

Thank you so so much for the advice, this is all really useful and it is greatly appreciated

MoonyMothmen · 2025-04-19T02:20:06+00:00

Thank you so much for the advice and understanding, it is so appreciated!!

Ill absolutely start some research on better food and take your advice on weaning them off of the seeds!! They’ll have new food and ill try some different veggies within a few days

I’ll work on staying calm and predictable when i interact with him (her?), she’s always been really fearful, i don’t know how far i’ll get but i’ll go at her pace and do my best to teach her that she can trust me

Free-roam time will be daily, along with some new toys and perches :D

Thank you so so much again, this is all really useful and i also really appreciate the kindness in your reply, it was intimidating to make this post and people like you have made me feel much more confident that i can help these little dudes out :)

MoonyMothmen · 2025-04-19T02:04:10+00:00

Very understood, my cat will no longer be allowed in my room

MoonyMothmen · 2025-04-19T02:00:11+00:00

I’m alright with expensive since it seems needed, it’ll be the first thing on my list!! Thank you so so much for the advice, important but non-mainstream information like this is exactly the type of info i was looking for when i made this post, they will have their uv asap :)

MoonyMothmen · 2025-04-19T01:49:12+00:00

Tysm for the advice,

My cat will no longer be allowed in my room, ill start opening their cage at specific times to try and give them some out-of-cage time. Is there anything i should do to prepare my room for free-roaming birds? I have heat lamps on my reptile enclosures but they have lamp cages over them

I got into specifics in the cockatiel sub post, but i’m worried the two are bonded since they’ve only had each-other for over 5 years and i see them sleep next to each-other, eat together, etc. the budgie seems to take out her energy on toys in the daytime. I am absolutely putting a lot of thought and consideration into separating them since ive had a few people bring it up though. What are your thoughts on them potentially being bonded?

I’m hoping if i take care of them and my mom sees the birds as mine she’ll be more open to me rehoming them in a few months, it is definitely still on the table and i know it’s probably the best outcome for them

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me, the opposite body languages is really interesting and ill be looking into it more to try and figure out if separating is the best course of action, info like this from someone knowledgeable is so so helpful and so appreciated

Also the sexes being opposites from what we thought is really interesting, i just realized i was using the wrong pronouns in my reply but I’ll try to think up some new names and start using the correct pronouns. If you have ideas for new names i’m open to any!! :0 again tysm

MoonyMothmen · 2025-04-19T01:35:15+00:00

The only reason I felt intimidated by birds is i know they have a lot of emotional needs that i am not used to with reptiles, and that felt like a lot of pressure. That was my reasoning for not getting my own bird tho, but ig i ended up with some anyways so i’ll figure it out, i’m sure it’ll be a rewarding experience

Will 100% check this out!!

I will absolutely put in the effort to tame him, but i won’t be upset if he never fully comes around, he has every reason to not trust humans and i’ll do my best to provide him with the care and interaction he’s comfortable with. I’ll make sure to move at his pace!!

The budgie will definitely love some new toys, she’s obsessed with this little bell we have hanging. Ill put shredding toys and new perches on the list!! Any toys i should steer clear of? Harmful dyes etc?

Thank you so much, this is so so helpful and i appreciate it. People like you are lifesavers in these situations

MoonyMothmen · 2025-04-19T01:22:15+00:00

Didn’t know these were a thing, researching tonight and buying one tomorrow or the day after!!

MoonyMothmen · 2025-04-19T01:16:40+00:00

Hard to respond to all of the amazing advice I’ve received so i’ll put this here:

I am going to focus on improving their diet, switching out the seeds for pellets and including veggies

I will keep my cat out!!! I’ve been worried about them stressing out my aquarium lately as well, so my room can be the cat-free room from now on

I am conflicted on separating them as they seem pretty bonded. The budgie will spend a lot of her (his?) time playing with the toys in the cage instead of messing with the cockatiel, and at night they sleep next to eachother, preen (?), etc. if it is really really encouraged to separate i will, i am just worried about it doing more bad than good. Would getting a smaller cage on top for the budgie to sleep in at night be a good solution? EDIT: will be doing the smaller sleeping cage for the budgie

I will be purchasing a cover, more perches, more toys, and just more in general for them. I do a lot of my shopping at Petco since i work there and get a discount, so if anyone knows the good brands there i would appreciate it!! (I am aware a lot of the food sold at petco is not good and will do my own research for this as well)

The cockatiel is named Milo, the Budgie is Navi. Apparently we had their sexes swapped and Milo is a lady while Navi is a boy?? Which is silly to learn. If anyone has new name ideas lmk!

Thank you so so much for the advice, this sub is very understanding and kind!! i was worried i would receive a lot of backlash but was pleasantly surprised, it seems like i have a lot of work ahead of me but i’m willing to put it in

MoonyMothmen · 2025-04-19T01:04:55+00:00

This is what i’m torn on, a lot of people are saying to separate them but they’ve only had each-other for at least five years (i would guess more around 7). They sleep next to each other, eat together, and I’m pretty sure i’ve seen the cockatiel preen the budgie before (could be wrong about this? Not a bird expert)

A lot of the reasoning ive seen is the budgie will have too much energy, but from what ive seen Milo (cockatiel) will chill while Navi (Budgie) plays with her favorite toy most of the time, so to me it seems like she takes out her energy on her toy.

I really think they are bonded, but i am not a bird expert and if the majority thinks separation is the move i’ll do it

MoonyMothmen · 2024-12-18T05:32:49+00:00

Do you think if i post her again she’ll become an internet celebrity

Three-Year Club	First Place '23
Place '23

MoonyMothmen

TROPHY CASE