Endler's livebearer care guide
Also called: Endler guppy, Endler's guppy, Endlers, Endler livebearer
Endler's livebearer is a tiny, peaceful cousin of the guppy. Males glow with neon orange, green and black, and a small group suits a 10 gallon (38 L) tank. Keep it in warm, hard water under a tight lid, and away from guppies to avoid hybrids.
Endler's livebearers need a tank of at least 10 gallons (38 L), a group of 3 or more, and water at 24–28°C (75–82°F) with a pH of 7–8.5. They grow to about 3 cm (1.2 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with Endler's livebearersSee all tank mates
Endler's livebearer quick facts
| Scientific name | Poecilia wingei |
|---|---|
| Family | Poeciliidae |
| Origin | Paria Peninsula lagoons, northeastern Venezuela (endangered in the wild; aquarium fish are captive-bred) |
| Adult size | 3 cm (1.2 in) |
| Minimum tank | 10 gallons (38 L) |
| Temperature | 24–28°C (75–82°F) |
| pH | 7–8.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 10–25 dGH |
| Group size | 3 or more (shoaling fish) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Top |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Easy |
| Lifespan | 2–3 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | Mostly (eats baby shrimp) |
| Safe with plants? | Yes |
- Known jumper: keep a tight-fitting lid.
Tank setup
A 10 gallon (38 L) tank suits an all-male group or a starting trio. A mixed group that breeds is better in 20 gallons (76 L). Use a sponge filter or cover the intake so fry are not sucked in. Plants, moss and floating cover help, and a tight lid is a must because Endlers jump.
How many Endler's livebearers in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits Endler's livebearers is a 10 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Endler's livebearers (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | 3–20 |
| 15 gallon | 3–31 |
| 20 gallon | 3–41 |
| 20 gallon long | 3–41 |
| 29 gallon | 3–60 |
| 40 gallon | 3–83 |
| 55 gallon | 3–115 |
| 75 gallon | 3–157 |
| 125 gallon | 3–262 |
What you need for Endler's livebearers
Sized for a 10 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 3 Endler's livebearers. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 10 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 50 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 79 °F (26 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 40–60 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 25 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 20 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for Endler's livebearers
- Micro pellets or flakes for small fish (opens Amazon in a new tab)Small enough for tetras, rasboras and other nano fish.
- Tight-fitting lid for a 10 gallon tank (opens Amazon in a new tab)Endler's livebearer can jump out of an open tank.
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Water parameters
Aim for 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), pH 7.0–8.5 and moderately hard to hard water of about 10–25 dGH. They are hardy but do best in warm, mineral-rich water rather than soft, acidic water. Cold water slows them down and makes them less active. Change about 25% of the water each week.
Best tank mates for Endler's livebearers
These popular species share Endler's livebearers' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 74 good matches.
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 20–27°C (68–81°F)
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 21–27°C (70–81°F)
African dwarf frog
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Avoid keeping Endler's livebearers with
- Angelfish: Angelfish can eat Endler's livebearers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Endler's livebearer 24–28°C (75–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Endler's livebearer 24–28°C (75–82°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
- Oscar: Oscar can eat Endler's livebearers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Bala shark: Bala shark can eat Endler's livebearers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Blood parrot cichlid: Blood parrot cichlid can eat Endler's livebearers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Feeding
An omnivore with a very small mouth. Feed crushed flake or micro pellets as the staple, plus baby brine shrimp, daphnia and other small frozen foods. Add some plant matter such as vegetable flake, and let them graze algae. Feed small amounts two or three times a day.
Behavior
Endlers are peaceful and busy, spending most of their time near the surface. Males display to females all day but rarely harm each other. Good tank mates are small, gentle fish like dwarf corydoras, small tetras and rasboras, plus shrimp and snails. Avoid any fish big enough to swallow them.
Breeding
Breeding is effortless. Females give birth roughly every 3–4 weeks to small broods, often 5–25 fry. Parents eat some babies, so thick moss and plants raise survival. Keep two or three females per male, or keep males only if you don't want fry.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Keep them apart from guppies. The two interbreed and the hybrids are fertile, which ruins pure lines.
- Look for breeder stock labeled as pure or "Class N" if you want true Endlers. Many shop fish are guppy hybrids.
- Fit a tight lid and cover gaps around the filter. Endlers jump through surprisingly small openings.
- An all-male group is colorful, peaceful and never overpopulates the tank.
- Use a sponge filter so newborn fry are not pulled into the intake.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an Endler and a guppy?
Endlers are smaller (males about 1 in / 2.5 cm), have short fins and often show neon orange and black patterns. Guppies are bigger and have been bred for long, flowing tails. They are close relatives and can interbreed.
How many Endlers can go in a 10 gallon tank?
About six males, or a trio of one male and two females to start. A mixed group breeds quickly, so plan for a bigger tank or a way to rehome the young.
Can Endlers live with shrimp?
Yes. Adult cherry shrimp and other dwarf shrimp are generally safe with Endlers. They will eat some shrimplets, so give the shrimp dense moss to hide in.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.