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My fancy Green Cobra Guppy, "Cobra" has had some changing behaviors that I don't know if it is related more to age. I have q-tined him several times for various treatments with no change in behavior.

Cobra has taken to sitting on the gravel in one corner and comes out to play for a while, then returns to his corner where he lays on the gravel and sleeps. He's been doing this more increasingly over the last 6 months. His belly has gotten bigger and I fully expected him to head into dropsy, but he hasn't.

Cobra is at least 2.5 years old. I don't know if that is a long time for a fancy variety or not. He eats very hardy - almost too much. His belly will swell like he's prego and he'll still eat. If I withhold food, he eats algae until he's ready to bust. It seems at these points he can barely lift himself from the gravel, but not always. He poops well - almost constantly . I should say, that it does not appear to be swim bladder related as it is easy for him to lift himself to the surface in a flash if he thinks its feeding time

This was a pic taken about a year ago, in his slimmer days.



Cory_Di attached this image:


Last edited by Cory_Di at 14-Mar-2005 21:55[/font]

Oh Diane he is beautiful!!!

I'm willing to say that he is becoming a Geriatric Guppy...but I wouldn't worry as long as he is eating well, and pooping well I wouldn't worry too much, unless some of the big mean fry he is father/grandfather/uncle/cousin/etc to decide to pick on him, then it might be time to start an "old folks home" for him to live out his days. Otherwise keep feeding him (like you really have a choice huh?) I know before I had that "attack" back in December my 2 geriatric guppies were getting lazier, though they would occassionally come out to chase the girls, and would refuse to miss a meal...Don't worry, he'll still be around for awhile yet, I'm sure, as well as his prodigy...Heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

I just wonder how long such guppies can live? I know that common guppies live much longer than fancy guppies because of all the inbreeding.

Unfortunately, this boy has never fathered any babies while in my care. It is a bachelor pad. I have one endlers sized male and I have him. They are eternal buddies always hanging out together and always practicing courtship poses on each other. They've been bosom buddies for the entire 2.5 years. In fact, the endlers-sized guppy is named "Buddy".

I don't have the means to make more tanks for breeding, otherwise, I would have wanted to get a female from out of state (to get a different genetic line) and breed her with him. I could have had the best of green cobras if I could have bred him.

Oh nuts, meant to attach the pic of the two together. Cobra's tail is always a bit jagged because every now and then some rasbora or white clouds will nip, which is quite uncharacteristic. Usually its when they are laying eggs or getting ready to and they don't want him around. Of course, the fools don't see the cories activated by the scent of eggs being laid. All the while they chase cobra away, the cories are feasting

Cory_Di attached this image:


Last edited by Cory_Di at 15-Mar-2005 08:51[/font]

Well, at least he has a Buddy to spend his time with...that always makes life a lot better, whether they be intimate or not doesn't matterI wish he had had children, I would be begging you for some:%)I have yet to get into the straight line breeding, so mine are still "muts" but I do have beautiful muts:%) I'll get some pictures soon when the newest generation gets a bit older...hml

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

I've got a problem with line breeding in that I believe it is responsible for vast weaknesses and premature deaths in certain species.

I'm lucky that the breeder who brought in Cobra is still breeding locally and I can get another one later if I want. I would just prefer to get a female that is unrelated.

I have read in several articles that the fancy expectancy is approximately two years, but hopefully cobra shall live longer than normal.

So he is a crusty old man!

I'd like to know if anyone has had any fancy variety of guppy make it longer than 2.5 years.

Never had a guppy live longer than 2 years. Fancy, wild, or common. I'd say if he is that old then you might want to grab any pictures you want of him now before he is gone. Every day is one longer than he should be living. I've never had a breeder claim to me that they would live longer than a year or year and a half, and any individuals who have claimed it never have proof. Mine that die have no real reason to kick over that I can find except for it just being their time.

Koi

Empty chairs at empty tables, the room silent, forlorn.

- Thanks koi. I've kind of heard that, but it's good to hear from breeders. I got him two years ago in December and he was fully grown.

Everyday I look in the tank and hold my breath. I look in his corner and wonder if I will see him on his side. While he likes to lay there hours at at time on that gravel, he then suddenly gets up and is ever so playful with Buddy and that goes on a few hours. Then he goes back to take a nap.

Sounds like an old man taking break on the porch

I just thought of something.

I wonder if the temperature means something. Many people keep their guppies in very warm water, like 78 from what I've read. My tank is about 74-75F. The higher the tank temp is, the faster the fish heart beats. If there are only so many beats, then higher temp could technically shorten lifespan, no?

Last edited by Cory_Di at 24-Mar-2005 06:57

I have heard that to be the case also Cory, and I believe it to be true.

Well, I just made a post about how long it takes guppies to reach full size in the breeding forum. Shannen replied that it could take about 8 months, give or take based on certain variables. Using 6 months as a conservative number, Cobra is 2 months shy of 3 years old!

He's swimming about in his usual "feed me" dance against the glass. He's always much skinnier in the AM so I can tell just how much he pigs out during the day. That boy must have one fatty liver

Last edited by Cory_Di at 24-Mar-2005 08:18