Cobra Guppy (Snakeskin)

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Strain created in breeding farms (probably originated in Germany or USA). In nature the progenitors live in slow ditches, warm pools and coastal rivers of Venezuela and Trinidad.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Cobra / Snakeskin Guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Commercial competition Poeciliid. Standard guppy morphology, but selected for "delta" tails (giant triangular) that strongly slow down the male's swimming.

Social Behavior: Tireless womanizer. Gathers near the surface waiting for feed, and then spends the rest of the day showing off his tail in front of any female that comes within range.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: The Snake Pattern. The "Cobra" or "Snakeskin" gene creates a dense network of fine metallic meshes (gold/black, green/black) on the male's body, which extends fading into spots on the huge tail. Females (6 cm / 2.4 inches large) are gray or greenish, with only the base of the tail colored.

Aquarium Setup: Guppy tank of 60-80 cm (24-32 inches). Still water is essential: a filter with a "torrent" flow would exhaust and kill the Cobra males, who drag tails as big as parachutes.

Diet and Feeding: Micro-omnivore. Very fond of vegetable flakes and live food. Supplement with spirulina powder to enhance the golden and green pigments of the Cobra lattice.

Water Quality: Hard water fish. Absolutely needs calcium and mineral salts (GH 12-25) to build its bones and develop fins. In soft and acidic water it will collapse and die of fungi in a few days.

Compatibility and Tankmates: To be paired with equally peaceful and non-nippy fish. Corydoras, Ancistrus and Platies are ideal. Male Bettas hate it (seeing its immense fins as a threat) and Buenos Aires Tetras will mutilate it.

Aquarium Reproduction: Extremely prolific. The male's gonopodium injects sperm packets that the female stores for months. The puppies (fry) are born already wriggling; without java moss on the bottom, they will be exterminated by the mother.

Risks and Diseases: Fin Necrosis (Fin Rot). Because of the immense tail, the vascularization at the extremities is weak. At the slightest drop in hygiene or ammonia accumulation, bacteria will attack the margins of the Cobra's tail, "burning" it and fraying it irreparably.