The Endler’s guppy (Poecilia wingei) is a breed of guppy found in South America. A Canadian biologist by the name of John Endler discovered the sub-species in 1975 (hence the name). Endler’s prefer to inhabit stagnant water unlike common guppies and fancy guppies, both of which favor fast-moving water. Here’s everything you need to know about Endler’s guppies.
| Endler’s Livebearer Guppy | Quick Info |
|---|---|
| Care Level: | Easy |
| Temperament: | Peaceful |
| Color: | Various bright colors |
| Lifespan: | 2-3 Years |
| Average Size: | Between 1 – 1.8 Inches |
| Diet: | Omnivorous |
| Family: | Poeciliidae |
| Minimum Tank Size: | 20 Gallons |
| Temperature: | 66-84 °F (18-29 °C) |
| Compatibility: | Other peaceful fish |
Table of Contents
Endler’s Guppy Images
Color
Males come in a range of different color forms due to polychromatism. The large band in the middle of the wild-type Poecilia wingei is also a characteristic of the species, but it appears to be missing in many of the aquarium forms of Poecilia wingei. practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
The colors of Endler’s livebearer males are bright and vary. The most common colors are black, orange, and metallic green colors. Their natural patterns vary, but many have a double swordtail. In the aquarium trade, selective breeding led to distinct patterns and colors, such as a red chest, black bar, peacock, yellow swordtail, etc.
Size
The average size of a male Endler’s guppy is 1 inch in length. Female Endler’s livebearers can grow to about 1.8 inches in length.
Diet
The Endler’s guppy is an omnivore. So, the typical diet comprises algae-based foods as well as live food—for example, algae-based flake food and freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of aquarium Endler’s livebearers is about two to three years. Females tend to have shorter lifespans than males.
Breeding
Endler’s guppies are prolific breeders and can give birth to baby guppies every 23-24 days. When breeding Endler’s guppies, be sure not to crossbreed with other species of guppies. It’s best to keep your Endler’s in a separate tank for breeding purposes.
It is also essential to have more females than males in the breeding tank. Males tend to harass females constantly, so the more females in the tanks decrease the chances that a single female will be harassed too much. A ratio of one male for every three females is good.
Once breeding is successful, remove the baby guppies from the tank and place them in an aquarium by themselves. The tank should have lots of live aquarium plants. Dense plants like java moss increase the survival rate of the fry as they have places to hide. You can also add floating plants to provide shade.
Fry can eat the same food as adult Endler’s, and they tend to grow fast. It only takes about two months for a baby Endler to mature. At around 4-5 weeks, the males start to develop colors.
Tank Mates
- Cory Catfish
- Neon Tetras
- White Clouds
- Honey Gourami
- Glass Fish
- Ghost Shrimp
- Cherry Shrimp
- Dwarf Corydoras
- Small Rainbowfish
- Otocinclus Catfish
- Zebra Danios
- Freshwater Clams
- Other guppy breeds
Endler’s Livebearers and Fancy Guppies
Fancy guppies have wide and colorful tails, while Endler’s tend to have a smaller swordtail (two smaller fins). Endler’s livebearers are also generally smaller in size compared to fancy guppies.
Both species are peaceful and have similar care and tank requirements. They can tolerate the same water temperatures and share the same diet.
Lastly, while both species can crossbreed, the newborn guppy fry might suffer from health issues and genetic mutations later on.
