SEXING
Although both the male and female are similar in appearance, there are a number of indicators of sex.  Females have brighter beaks where as the males beak has a silver-gray hue.  Females have larger white spots and a narrower heads and narrower black chest bands than the male.  I have found the most reliable indicator to be the faint white hue over the eye of males. Also, males have a raspy song that they sing while twisting their head down and to the side. 

HOUSING
Diamond firetails due best in an aviary.  They are precise flyers who really appreciate the flight space.  I have successfully breed them in 4’ cages however.  They cope well with lower temperatures provided they are given adequate nesting material to build a well insulated nest.

DIET
Diamond firetails will accept a standard finch mix, cuttlebone, oyster shell, and fresh water.  Offer Feast Insectivoure, greens and mealworms when breeding to provide the extra protein needed at that time. I serve Daily essentials 3 on their softfood daily and calcivet 2x/week.  During breeding, increase the calcivet to 5 times per week and add Proboost supermax to the softfoods to provide the increased protein needed.

BREEDING
 Diamond Firetails are rather picky about their mates.  It sometimes takes them some time to accept a mate but once they do they are VERY loyal partners.  Diamond Firetails breed both spring and fall.  They do not usually breed during the hottest or coldest months when kept outside.  Inside they will breed throughout the year.

The male builds a nest using long grasses, cocoa fibers and twigs.  He will build his nest in either a half open nest box or freestanding in a shrub.  He lines the nest with  feathers.  In fact, he will often times bury the eggs in feathers and use large feathers to hide the entrance to the nest.

The mating dance consists of the male holding a LONG piece of grass in his beak and bobbing up and down while puffing his chest and lowering his head.  It is one of the more comical mating dances.  At the same time he emits a long raspy sound.  The female lays 5-7 eggs which both parents incubate for 13 days.  Diamond Firetails take longer to fledge than many species; about 30 days.  They are independent about two weeks after they fledge.  They come into their adult colors fairly quickly and can be safely breed after about 9 months.