What Should Not Be Missing from Lorikeet Food?
I remember the first time I saw a Lorikeet up close. This blur of colour moving between branches, and I realised why people fall in love with them so quickly. With some of the most vibrant plumage in the animal world and dietary habits unlike any other parrots, lorikeets have become one of the most popular pet birds in Australia. And once you spend a bit of time around them, it’s easy to see why. They’re playful, smart, and somehow manage to charm both families with children and adults who want a companion that feels truly alive, not just decorative.
Lorikeets typically live 15 to 20 years in the wild, so they’re not a short commitment. Even the smaller ones rarely weigh more than 150 grams, but don’t let their size fool you, they bring more energy into a house than pets ten times heavier. Their nectarivore diet makes them different from the usual parrot species, and because they evolved to live in large flocks, they carry this natural social streak that makes them crave interaction. They mimic sounds, chatter constantly, and if you live in Eastern Australia, you’ll spot them pretty much everywhere, including, as I’ve noticed more times than I can count, perched in cages inside almost every pet store near me.
Still, their specialised diet can surprise new owners. Since these birds are natural pollinators and depend heavily on nectar, they need to eat about 20% of their body weight in it every single day. Sure, they’ll happily nibble on soft fruits such as mango or papaya, but their main food source will always be pollen and nectar. So, if you’re thinking of bringing one home, choosing the right food isn’t just a nice detail but rather it’s the foundation of keeping them healthy.
What Should You Feed Them?
This is the question every lorikeet owner asks at least once, usually in a mild panic after realising these birds don’t eat the usual parrot seed mixes. Lorikeets are nectarivores, through and through, which means their diet revolves around pollen, nectar, and occasional fruits. If you’re looking to buy high-quality lorikeet food and aren’t sure where to start, don’t worry, I’ve been there too, staring at shelves full of powders that all look the same.
The rule of thumb? Invest in pellets or powder mixes designed specifically to mimic natural nectar. Good lorikeet formulas usually include sugars such as glucose and fructose for energy, which makes sense, considering how active these birds are. But you’ll also want to give them small fruit treats now and then such as pears, mango, papaya, and kiwi. It mimics their natural eating habits, and let’s face it, watching them eat fruit is honestly adorable. You will not find messier eaters in the avian kingdom than Lorikeets.
In general, dry formulas that replicate nectar and pollen should make up around 80% of their daily diet. The remaining 20% can come from fresh fruits or the occasional vegetable. But, when you’re shopping, you should look for lorikeet food with at least 17% crude protein, no more than 0.5% salt, and a decent range of added minerals like calcium, potassium, zinc and vitamins such as A, B1, B2, D3, C. Plus, because their diet contains a lot of natural sugars, constant access to fresh water is non-negotiable. You’ll need to refill the water bowl more often than you think. Do you think they are messy eaters? Hah, you should see them drink.
Why Buy Your Lorikeet Food from a Pet Store Near Me?
Mostly because sometimes you don’t have the luxury of waiting around. If you’re like me, juggling work and errands, getting pet supplies done quickly becomes a priority. Online pet stores definitely win when it comes to variety. They usually stock more than any physical pet store near me ever could. But the downside is obvious. Nobody wants to wait for delivery and deal with returns if the product isn’t what you expected.
A highly reputable local pet store near me offers immediacy. No delivery times, no “expected back in stock next Tuesday.” If your lorikeet’s food runs out or you realise you urgently need medicine, a new cage accessory, or something essential for the bird’s well-being, a local shop becomes the only real option. Sure, sometimes online shops have better prices. I’ve compared them often enough, so I should know. But price doesn’t help much when the bag of food is empty right now and your bird is staring at you like it’s your fault.
Plus, a local store gives you the chance to check product quality directly. You can look at the packaging, read the ingredient list without zooming in on a product photo, and talk to people who actually handle these items daily. And of course, you skip delivery fees, some of which feel like they’re designed to punish you for living more than two suburbs away.
Obtain Personal Recommendations
Instant availability is great, but the real value of a pet store near me, or near anyone, if we’re being honest, is the advice you can get from the staff. You can research lorikeet diets for hours, but there’s always some detail you’ll miss. Maybe a specific brand is too sugary. Maybe a certain fruit shouldn’t be given too often. Maybe your bird’s behaviour is normal… or maybe it’s something you should look into.
That’s where the staff’s experience becomes priceless. Need help choosing the right lorikeet food? Not sure which fruits work best as treats? Wondering whether your bird needs supplements or if you’re overthinking things? People working in local pet stores usually know these answers by heart because they deal with these questions every day. Yes, in some cases they might have their hands full with daily duties. But, they updated on what’s new on the Australian pet supply market, and in most cases, they will be glad to help you out.
You’ll find that most of them genuinely love animals, too. I’ve had conversations that started with a simple question about Lorikeet food and ended 20 minutes later with grooming tips, stories about misbehaving cockatoos, and reassurance that, yes, your lorikeet’s dramatic screaming is perfectly normal. It’s the kind of guidance you simply don’t get from an online checkout page, and it’s the main reason why local pet stores are still thriving.