Male Cobra Koi Guppy 3.5cm

Male Cobra Koi Guppy

The cobra koi guppy has got to be one of the most adorable guppy strains in the aquarium hobby, these are likely a hybrid made through Endlers and Guppies due to their small size. These guppies are also super contrasting and offer so much room with selective breeding which makes them an awesome species for breeders.

Cobra koi guppies get their name due to the colouration on the body. The koi aspect comes from the Kohaku style of colours orange and white. The orange is isolated towards the face and past the ventral fin with a white colour through the body. The cobra part is because of their snake-like patterning that runs all through the body, this patterning carries varying shades of yellow and orange which make it an incredibly contrasting fish. These guppies will look great in almost any aquarium setting whether it’s a hardscape-only aquarium or a planted community tank.

Guppies are one of the easiest fish in the aquarium hobby to breed which is why they are such a popular species. These are a livebearer which means the females will give birth to fully formed fry instead of eggs. Females tend to have less green around the fins and body compared to males along with smaller fins however will get larger. The wild habitat of the natural guppy is widespread from South America to Mexico.

Tank Recommendations for Male Cobra Koi Guppy

Being a very small and easy to care for fish a trio of these cobra koi guppies can be kept in nano aquariums with the minimum being a 37 litre aquarium. A sand or gravel substrate would be fine for these fish as well, a lot of plant growth will also make these fish contrast well but also make for handy locations where guppy fry can grow. Guppies however are considered to be hard water fish meaning they prefer the water to have an elevated PH and are not like a tetra. This higher PH of 7 - 8 can be achieved with a PH buffer or African cichlid lake conditioning salts.

Breeding

Cobra koi guppies or any other guppy for that fact are super easy and very different from any other aquarium fish. Where the vast majority of aquarium fish lay eggs; guppies give birth to live young just like mammals. If you are looking to breed guppies it is recommended that there is a ratio of one male to around 3 or more females to make sure that females do not constantly get stressed by the males attempting to breed. When gravid the female guppy will develop a dark black ‘egg spot’ near her ventral fin which is the developing fry.

She will then release these in a safe location in the aquarium which is why it is recommended to have a lot of plant cover in the aquarium. Guppies may also eat any fry they find in the aquarium, so aquarists often have a ‘grow out aquarium’ however this is not necessary. With these guppies specifically it is recommended to line breed or regulate the offspring produced as it will ensure that the genetic traits of the patterning and green are maintained however there is a lot of room to experiment and hybridise to create new and better colour strains!

Suitable Tank Buddies

The cobra koi guppy is a very peaceful aquarium fish and males are no different in aggression when compared with females. They are great with a wide range of nano aquarium fish however because of their bright and flashy fins, certain fin-nipping species would be avoided. The other factor is that guppies are fish that need higher PH so keeping them with south American tetras may not be very suitable as these lower PH.

Usually Compatible

Pseudomogil species such as fork-tail rainbows, blue eyes, rice fish, and nano aquarium fish that can tolerate hard water conditions.

Sometimes Compatible

Medium-growing or possibly fin-nipping species. Bettas should also be avoided because of their similar flashy nature to guppies which could lead to aggression from the betta's end.

Rarely Compatible

Large and aggressive species that would prey on the guppies such as oscars, or jaguar cichlids.

Feeding your Male Cobra Koi Guppy

The cobra koi guppy is very easy to feed once it is settled into the aquarium. It will readily eat a wide range of foods but would prefer to have a floating nano pellet or flake due to its top-dwelling behaviour. Giving them nutritional food with good protein and varied ingredients can result in the mild colours being slightly more enhanced.