Cobra Guppy Care Guide
The Cobra Guppy is a selectively bred snakeskin-patterned strain of Poecilia reticulata, a hardy livebearer for hard water.
Overview
The Cobra Guppy is a selectively bred strain of the guppy, Poecilia reticulata, distinguished by a fine snakeskin-like pattern of vermiculations across the body and tail. The guppy, a livebearer of the family Poeciliidae, was described by W. Peters in 1859. Breeders have produced many strains differing in colour, pattern and fin shape, including snakeskin and grass varieties.
Taxonomy
- Family: Poeciliidae
- Genus: Poecilia
- Scientific name: Poecilia reticulata var. Cobra
- Author of species: Peters, 1859
Habitat
The wild guppy is native to northeastern South America and the southern Caribbean, including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela. It has been widely introduced elsewhere. Cobra guppies are tank-bred ornamental fish rather than wild-collected.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 7.0-8.5
- GH: 10-25 °dGH
- Size: 3-5 cm (males smaller, females larger)
- Lifespan: 1-3 years
Diet
Guppies are omnivores. Wild fish consume algal remains, diatoms, invertebrates, zooplankton, detritus, plant fragments and aquatic insect larvae. In the aquarium they accept a varied diet of quality flakes supplemented with small live and frozen foods and some vegetable matter.
Compatibility
Cobra guppies are peaceful, mid-water fish that suit hard-water communities. Good companions include other livebearers and small tetras, while fin-nipping species should be avoided because long-finned males are vulnerable. They tolerate hard, alkaline water well.
Breeding
Guppies are livebearers with internal fertilisation. According to Wikipedia, gestation ranges from about 20 to 60 days at 25 to 27.8 °C, after which free-swimming fry are born. Reproduction occurs readily in the aquarium, and dense planting or a separate rearing space helps fry avoid predation by adults.