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Cobra Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii
Variety of Guppy · cobra
📍 South America
The Cobra Guppy features a distinctive snakeskin or cobra-pattern on the body, typically in yellow or orange with dark reticulation. Like all guppies, it is a hardy livebearer that thrives in most freshwater community tanks and is easy to breed.
Care Guide
Diet
Cobra Guppies are omnivorous and thrive on high-quality flake foods, micro pellets, and small frozen foods like brine shrimp and daphnia once daily. Supplement with vegetable matter such as blanched spinach or algae-based foods weekly to support color vibrancy and overall health.
Behavior
Cobra Guppies are peaceful, active swimmers that spend most of their time in the mid-water column. Males display elaborate courtship behaviors with their distinctive patterned tails, while females are more reserved; they are social fish that do well in groups but may experience stress if kept alone.
Breeding
Cobra Guppies breed readily in captivity as livebearers, requiring no special conditions beyond adequate space and good water quality. Females produce 20-30 fry every 4-6 weeks; provide dense vegetation or breeding boxes to protect fry from predation by adults. Breeding is easy and happens spontaneously in established tanks.
Tank Mates
Peaceful algae eaters that occupy different water zones and have no aggression toward guppies
Similar size and temperament; both prefer warm water and peaceful community environments
Peaceful gourami species that coexist well with guppies in planted tanks
Small shrimp that occupy different ecological niches; provide hiding spots to protect shrimplets
Harmless algae-eating snails that help maintain water quality without competing with guppies
Common Diseases
Fin Rot
Frayed, disintegrating fins; white or black edges on fin tissue; lethargy
Improve water quality through frequent partial water changes, maintain temperature at 24-26°C, and treat with aquarium salt or antibacterial medication if severe
Ich (White Spot Disease)
White spots on body and fins, flashing against objects, rapid breathing, loss of appetite
Raise temperature gradually to 28-29°C, perform daily water changes, and treat with ich medication or salt therapy for 7-10 days
Velvet Disease
Fine golden or rust-colored dust on body, clamped fins, rapid gill movement, lethargy
Increase aeration, raise temperature to 28°C, reduce light exposure, and treat with copper-based medication or salt following product instructions
Dropsy
Swollen abdomen, protruding scales, lethargy, loss of appetite, pale coloration
Isolate affected fish, improve water quality, provide high-quality food, and treat with antibiotics; prognosis is often poor if advanced
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