Imported Endler Males

Endler’s Livebearer Care Guide

1. General Info

• Scientific Name: Poecilia wingei

• Common Name: Endler’s Livebearer

• Lifespan: 2–3 years

• Adult Size: 2–4 cm (males are smaller and more colorful than females)

• Temperament: Peaceful, active, and social

• Difficulty Level: Beginner-friendly

2. Tank Setup

• Tank Size:
  Minimum 40 liters for a small group (males only). For mixed sexes, larger tanks (60+ liters) are recommended due to constant breeding.

• Water Parameters:

  • Temperature: 22–28 °C

  • pH: 6.5–8.0

  • Hardness: 8–20 dGH (they like harder water)

• Filtration & Flow:
  Gentle filtration with some water movement. Sponge filters are ideal for fry safety.

• Substrate & Décor:

  • Fine gravel or sand.

  • Plants (live or artificial) provide hiding spots. Floating plants are excellent for fry protection.

  • Driftwood and rocks can be added for natural enrichment.

3. Diet

• Omnivores with high protein needs.

• Feed variety of:

  • High-quality flake or micro-pellets

  • Live/frozen foods (daphnia, baby brine shrimp, bloodworms, mosquito larvae)

  • Vegetable matter (blanched spinach, zucchini, spirulina-based foods)

Feed small amounts 1–2 times daily.

4. Tank Mates

• Good Tank Mates: Neon tetras, guppies, corydoras, small rasboras, shrimp, and snails.

• Avoid: Large or aggressive fish (cichlids, bettas, barbs).

5. Breeding

• Very easy to breed—males constantly court females.

• Females give birth to live young every 3–4 weeks.

• Fry are independent from birth and can eat crushed flakes or baby brine shrimp.

• Provide dense plants/moss for fry survival if not separating them.

6. Special Notes

• Endlers hybridize easily with guppies. If you want pure Endlers, avoid keeping them together.

• Keep a balanced sex ratio: 1 male to 2–3 females, or a male-only group to avoid overbreeding.

• They are hardy but thrive best with regular water changes (25–30% weekly).

✨ Interesting Fact: Endler’s Livebearers were discovered in Venezuela in the 1970s by John Endler. They were almost lost in the wild due to habitat destruction, so most in the hobby are captive-bred.