Parrotlet or Sun Conure?

[sunnyshine]

I posted before about possibly getting a Parrotlet in addition to my 5 month old Eclectus, Sunny. I've been doing a lot of research and am also looking into the possibility of a Sun Conure. Since a Sun Conure would be closer in size to Sunny than a Parrotlet would be, would that make them more likely to get along? I would really like it for Sunny and the new bird to be able to enjoy each others company. Which one would be a better choice? Any tips or advice about the pros/cons of Parrotlets and Sun Conures would be greatly appreciated.
I'm really sorry about all of the posts and questions. I don't mean to get on anyone's nerves... there are just so many things to be asked as a new, first time parront!

[Monica]

For the people who own them, parrotlets and suns make great pets... However, either bird could still be injured by a much larger ekkie.... and only the sun may be able to somewhat defend itself.

All I can really say is, there is no guarantee that the two birds would get along, and without knowing the birds personalities, you could be setting yourself up for grief. Yeah, some people do mix large and small species together without incidents (like myself, thus here I'll be the hypocrite) however it may only take one chance for something to go wrong.

In the same cage they probably wont get along, but they might be able to get along together outside of their cages once acclimated to eachother. Although if they don't, then you would need to allow them out at different times so that they don't hurt eachother.

[jriley]

I can say that I get very scared when either our sun conure or our quaker get too close to our umbrella cockatoo. The cockatoo is very sweet and just a baby, but when you see her beak near those little guys it's easy to see that it wouldn't take much for some very tragic consequences.

Whichever you choose, choose the one you think you would enjoy the most (sun conures can be very loud!-forget sleeping in on the weekend) and don't think in terms of a companion for your eclectus. All three of our birds ignore each other except when one intrudes on another's territory and then they go after the intruder. We'd love it if the two smaller birds were friends, but handfed birds seem to be more interested in their owners than in other birds. The biggest thing will be ensuring that you can keep everybody safe. Our cockatoo is semi-flighted (she has just enough of a clip that she can't lift off from the ground but can fly from a high place) and is all over the house, so we constantly have to be sure she doesn't go to the little guys' cages. The little ones are starting to grow back their flight feathers and we may have to clip them again as they just won't stay out of trouble.

Good luck!
Julie

[sunnyshine]

I understand exactly what you both are saying, so I'm trying to be realistic about my expectations. I wouldn't be letting them out to play together, only if they were each on separate play gyms. They would be in separate cages next to each other, so I just want them to be able to enjoy each others company. I am falling in love with a Sun Conure I've been visiting at Petco. He climbs all up and down the cage coming as close as he can to my face.. I think he likes me. He sure is tugging at my heart. What is a good price range for a Sun Conure? Also, I know they can be loud, but so can an Eclectus. When Sunny wants to, he sounds like an air raid! Are Conures loud/screaming all the time, or only when there's a reason? Sunny only screams in the morning and if something scares him, so he is not a screamer at all. Would he pick that habit up from a Conure? Are there any other problems with Sun Conures I should know about? As you can probably tell, I'm really leaning toward the Sun Conure. So any info would be greatly appreciated.

[Monica]

Handraised sun conures probably range from $150-$400 from a breeder, and usually about $600 in a petstore...

Other than want of food, water, or me being of taxi service, Noel is one of the quietest birds in the house, if not THE quietest. However, on the other hand, Charlie is the loudest... to the point of obnoxious loud! He screams when water is running, he screams at the phone, he screams at being sprayed, he screams if he can't see me, he screams if he's not on me, he screams the VERY moment and the few moments after while being put into the bathroom (where he sleeps), he screams at loud noises, screams at the camera, he screams at dogs barking, he screams for..... the list I'm sure goes on, and sometimes he's better at being quiet than others, but it CAN be obnoxious screaming throughout the ENTIRE day, even when he's got everything he needs. Sun conures are more high pitched so may more easily get on peoples nerves... however, I'm sure Charlie would easily put people on edge just as easily as a sun might!