Endler's livebearer care
Poecilia wingei · Lagoons of north-eastern Venezuela
Endlers are smaller, brighter cousins of the guppy with short fins and neon color.
- Tank size
- 10 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 72 to 82 °F (22 to 28 °C)
- Group size
- 3 or more
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Adult size
- 1.8 in (males about 1 in, females up to 1.8 in)
- pH
- 7 to 8
- Hardness (GH)
- 8 to 18 dGH
- Lifespan
- 2 to 3 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Care level
- Easy
In a 10 gallon
20¼ × 10½ × 12 9/16 in outsideHow to keep Endler's livebearers
Endlers are smaller, brighter cousins of the guppy with short fins and neon color. Care matches guppies: 10 gallons or more, 72 to 82 °F, moderately hard water, more females than males. They interbreed with guppies, so keep them apart if you want pure Endlers.
Diet: Omnivore: crushed flakes, micro pellets, small frozen foods. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Top of the tank.
Endler's livebearer tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
X-ray tetra
1.8 in · 15+ gal · 75–82 °F
Head and tail light tetra
1.8 in · 15+ gal · 72–82 °F
Black phantom tetra
1.8 in · 15+ gal · 72–82 °F
Silvertip tetra
2 in · 20+ gal · 72–82 °F
Harlequin rasbora
2 in · 10+ gal · 72–81 °F
Cherry barb
2 in · 20+ gal · 73–81 °F
Shell-dweller cichlid
2 in · 10+ gal · 75–80 °F
Panda corydoras
2 in · 15+ gal · 68–77 °F
Keep apart
Pea puffer: Pea puffers belong in a tank of their own.
Fancy goldfish: Adult fancy goldfish eat fish under about 2 in; Endler's livebearers grow to 1.8 in.
Golden wonder killifish: Adult golden wonder killifish eat fish under about 2 in; Endler's livebearers grow to 1.8 in.
Red-tail dwarf puffer: Red-tail dwarf puffers belong in a tank of their own.
Everglades pygmy sunfish: Everglades pygmy sunfish belong in a tank of their own.
Axolotl: Axolotls belong in a tank of their own.
What an Endler's livebearer tank needs
A tank of 10 US gallons or more (such as the 10 gallon) with a cover, and the equipment below.
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Aquarium Co-Op Easy Flow Sponge Filter, Small
A sponge filter gives gentle flow and cannot pull in small fish. It runs from an air pump, with airline tubing and a check valve, all sold separately.
hygger AquaFall Aquarium Filter, S
Rated by the maker for 7–10 US gal, which covers a 10 gallon Endler's livebearer tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Aqueon QuietFlow Internal Power Filter 5–15 gal
Rated by the maker for 5–15 US gal, which covers a 10 gallon Endler's livebearer tank without being built for a far bigger one.
hygger Precise Aquarium Heater 50W
Endler's livebearers need 72 to 82 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding Endler's livebearers.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 72 to 82 °F.
More choices, each with the reason it is in or out: Filters for a 10 gallon tank · Heaters for a 10 gallon tank. We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common Endler's livebearer problems
- They breed fast; an all-male group avoids overstocking.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name, origin and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Poecilia wingei. Temperature, pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- Endler's livebearer Dgrummon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- X-ray tetra Debivort, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Head and tail light tetra Deadlyballistics (English Wikipedia), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Black phantom tetra Krächz, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Silvertip tetra Filtropat; cropped by Kyknos, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Harlequin rasbora NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cherry barb Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Shell-dweller cichlid Richard A. Ingebrigtsen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Panda corydoras Chronotopian, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Pea puffer Beta Mahatvaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Fancy goldfish Benson Kua, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Golden wonder killifish Marrabbio2, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Red-tail dwarf puffer Neale Monks (English Wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Everglades pygmy sunfish Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Axolotl LoKiLeCh, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Guppy Marrabbio2, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Molly LPA74, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Platy Monika Korzeniec, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Swordtail Usien, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
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