Sunday, June 27, 2010

Lemon Cobra Guppy

Lemon Cobra Guppy
(Poecilia reticulata)
QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Water Conditions: 64-82° F, KH 10-30, pH 5.5-8.0
Max. Size: 2½"
Color Form: Black, Blue, Green, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Origin: Captive-bred in Asia, Central America to Brazil
Family: Poeciliidae

The Lemon Cobra Guppy is also called the Millions Fish and sometimes, simply the Guppy. It is one of the color variations of Poecilia reticulata guppy. The hardiness of the Lemon Cobra Guppy, as well as the fact that it matures quickly makes it an excellent fish for beginning hobbyists. The Lemon Cobra male has a striking metallic blue-green body with a solid yellow tail fin and dorsal fin.
The Lemon Cobra Guppy requires a tank with at least 20 gallons of water, and is very tolerant of changing tank conditions. Plants should be hardy varieties such as Java Fern and Java Moss that can handle the increased hardness in the tank. Other peaceful fish would make good tank mates.

The females in this pair are of an assorted variety; however, you can differentiate the males and females easily. The males are smaller in size, have brighter coloration, along with a bigger tail fin, and pointed anal fin. The females are larger in size with a duller coloration, have a rounded anal fin, as well as a pregnancy patch on the lower portion of the body. Ideally, the environment would have a covering of floating ferns and a breeding box to protect the fry. Adults may eat the fry if left to fend for themselves without the breeding box. The fry should be fed brine shrimp, micro food and pulverized flakes.

The Lemon Cobra Guppy is an omnivore and requires both algae-based foods as well as meaty foods. An algae-based flake food, along with freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp will provide guppies with the proper nutrition.

from www.liveaquaria.com

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