Endler's livebearer
Poecilia wingei
A tiny, brilliantly coloured cousin of the guppy that suits nano tanks of 10 gallons, but crossbreeds readily with ordinary guppies.
Key facts
- Body length
- 1 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 13 gallons
- Group
- 3+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Micro pellets, flakes, spirulina and baby brine shrimp
- Origin
- Northeastern Venezuela, South America
- Hardier than67%
- Bigger than5%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Endler's livebearer tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cardinal tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyEndlers and guppies interbreed.Risky
- OtocinclusEndler's livebearer outcompetes the slow-eating Otocinclus for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Blood parrot cichlidEndler's livebearer outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Endler's livebearer.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Endler's livebearer.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Endler's livebearer.Risky
- AngelfishAngelfish can eat Endler's livebearer: prey body depth 0.6 cm ≤ mouth 2.3 cm.Avoid
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Endler's livebearer: prey body depth 0.6 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Endler's livebearer: prey body depth 0.6 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat Endler's livebearer: prey body depth 0.6 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- GoldfishGoldfish can eat Endler's livebearer: prey body depth 0.6 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Endler's livebearer: prey body depth 0.6 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for Endler's livebearers: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 2.5 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 0.48 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 0.74 BU
- Min. water
- 41 L net
- Min. footprint
- 45 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 3+ (best 6)
- Swims in
- top, middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Poecilia wingei · FishBase: Poecilia wingei
Care notes
Endler's livebearers come from freshwater lagoons in northeastern Venezuela and stay around 1 inch long. Males are vividly patterned and chase females constantly, while females can be a little territorial.
Keep several females per male in warm, hard water of 75–86 °F. Do not keep them with guppies, since the two hybridise, and their small size makes them a poor fit for a busy community tank.
Questions
What size tank does a endler's livebearer need?
At least 13 gallons (41 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 1 inches without fins.
How many Endler's livebearers should be kept together?
Keep at least 3, ideally 6 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do Endler's livebearers need?
75–86 °F, pH 7–8.5 and 15–35 dGH. Endler's livebearers come from Northeastern Venezuela, South America.
How long do Endler's livebearers live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with Endler's livebearers?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Panda corydoras, Cherry shrimp and Betta. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.