King Cobra Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
About this strain
An enhanced version of the Cobra, the King Cobra layers the characteristic rosette body pattern onto a larger, more imposing fish with a full, heavily patterned tail — often a delta or fantail shape with lace or snakeskin detailing extending into the fins. The gold or yellow body with dense black scaling gives these fish a jeweled appearance. Show-quality King Cobras demand excellent water quality and consistent feeding; the pattern degrades noticeably under stress. They're stunning but require more commitment than standard Cobras to maintain peak condition.
Origin
Developed as an intensified refinement of the Cobra strain, primarily by dedicated breeders in Southeast Asia and Germany through the 1980s and 1990s. Exact originator is unclear.