I have 2 firealts (ones much older than the other), both have -600, a great investment as well since you can sell the -600's later.

As for skills when you learn a new skill you can just go somewhere and pump it up. I got my firealts hegandis hit maxed out at pine, then they went back to bursting. I maxed out my storm before I even started to burst (at panda, also collected clear devil spar for superior alchemy there, so you can also collect certain stuff you need while working on your skills.)