Scarlet-chested parakeet , neophema splendia is about 19cm (8 inches) when adult size. Weight is about 37-44 grams.  This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful of all parakeets, the male having exceptionally lustrous plumage.  The males head is blue, of a deeper shade on the throat and cheeks with an almost luminous quality.  The wings are broadly edged with pale blue; under wing coverts  and outer edges of the flight feathers are darker blue; the rest of the under parts are yellow. The breast is scarlet.  Upper parts are green and the tail is green, the lateral feathers being blue tipped with yellow.  The bill is grayish black and the iris is brown.  The female lacks the red on the breast, this area being green. The blue on her head is duller and more restricted than in the male. 

Immature birds resemble the female but are slightly duller.  Adult plumage is reached about 6 months of age.

Only healthy, unrelated pairs should be paired together.  Some females may lay only one clutch during their second year but are usually double-brooded thereafter.  They will usually lay between four and five  The scarlet-chests are very ready to breed in aviaries.  The nest box should be introduced by the end of March.  The measurements are not of great importance, although the box should be deep enough for the young not to emerge prematurely.  A suggested size is 12 inches deep and 6 inches square, with an entrance hole which is just large enough to admit the birds.  A couple inches of damp peat or a peat and soil mixture should be pressed down on the bottom of the box.