Endler’s Livebearers (Poecilia wingei), often referred to as Endlers for short, are small freshwater fish that are native to Venezuela. Endlers are in the same genus as guppies. There is some debate as to whether or not they are actually the same species as the common guppy, notably due to the fact that Endlers and guppies can interbreed. However, they are currently categorized as their own species. Like guppies, Endler’s livebearers are prolific breeders that, as their name suggests, give live birth rather than laying eggs.
History:
Endler’s livebearers were named after a man named Dr. John Endler, who, in 1975, was credited for introducing the species to the aquarium trade. Although they are easy to breed and thrive in captivity, the original wild population of Endlers is thought to be either endangered or extinct. This is thought partly to be due to pollution and predation, and partly caused by the introduction of guppies into native Endler habitat. Endler’s and guppies hybridizing in the wild dilutes the genes of pure Endlers. Some enthusiasts believe that there are actually no pure Endlers left in the wild, as they have been replaced by guppy hybrids.
Endler’s Strains:
In captivity, Endler’s livebearers are classified to help maintain purity of the original strain. If you are keeping Endlers for your own personal enjoyment knowing their classification may be moot, however properly classifying these little fish is important if you plan on ever selling any.
- N class Endlers are pure Endlers that have not been subject to hybridization. To be a true N class, fish should have documentation proving that their lineage originates with wild stock caught in Venezuela. If kept with guppies or other types of livebearers, resulting offspring cannot be classified as N class.
- K class Endlers are known hybrids. Endler hybrids are often strikingly beautiful little fish who make awesome aquarium additions. However, care should be taken to always disclose that they are K class/hybrids if they or their offspring are ever sold to other hobbyists.
- P class Endlers are fish that appear to be pure strain Endlers, but who do not have the necessary documentation proving them to be. Most Endlers in the hobby today fall into this category.
Appearance:
You cannot classify Endlers as N class just by looking at them, unfortunately, as both P and K class Endlers can sometimes look very similar to the original strain. Luckily, no matter what class of fish you keep, Endlers are hardy and easy to care for. The males are both smaller, and more colorful than the females. Female Endlers very much resemble female guppies. They are plainly colored and generally grow up to around 2 inches long. Males are brightly colored and generally grow to only around an inch in length.
~ Endler’s Livebearers Quick Care Facts ~
- Ideal temperature: Between 75*F – 81*F
- Ideal pH: 5.5 – 8.0
- Lifespan: 1 – 3 years
- Tank size: 10 + gallons
- Temperament: Peaceful
Endlers care is very similar to that of common guppies. They are ideal pets for even beginners to the fish hobby. Like all tropical aquarium fish, they should be kept in filtered, heated (if needed), well maintained aquariums. Although they can survive in smaller tanks, ten gallons or more is recommended. Endlers are active little fish who love to swim around and explore their environments. Planted tanks are usually appreciated, especially if Endlers are being kept with larger fish. The plants give Endlers safe places to hide if they are feeling threatened by larger tank inhabitants. Endlers tanks should always be covered, as these fish are known to jump.
Temperature & pH:
Endlers are hardy little fish that can accumulate to a wide range of tank parameters. Although I listed their ideal temperature as being between 75*F and 81*F, they can accumulate to both colder and warmer temperatures with a standard range of between 64*F and 84*F being easily accepted. Care should be taken to not allow your tank to get below 64*F, as water that is too cold can kill your fish. Temperatures on the higher end of the accepted range can shorten Endlers’ lifespan.
Like with temperatures, Endlers can also adapt to a wide range of pH. They can even be accumulated to brackish water. Quickly changing water parameters stress fish out, so care should be taken to accumulate them to new conditions slowly. Keep your tank well maintained to avoid harsh swings in water parameters.
Feeding Endler’s:
Endlers are not picky eaters and will consume pretty much any food that’s small enough to fit into their mouths. If pieces of food are too large, it should be crushed into smaller pieces before offering to your Endlers. Be careful not to overfeed. Feeding small amounts more often is usually better than offering large amounts of food all at once. Higher quality foods often lead to healthier, more colorful fish. Commercial fish foods (pellets) sold for guppies and/or flaked fish foods are readily available and work well for Endlers.
Breeding:
Breeding Endlers, if you care too, is simple. It’s often said that all you have to do to breed these fish is add water. Adult females kept with males in ideal tank conditions will give birth to live young about once every 23 days. The number of fry birthed depends on the age, health, and size of the female, and can range anywhere from just 1 baby at a time to around 30. Interestingly, tank temperatures seem to impact the sex of Endlers fry. Higher temperatures seem to more often result in male babies while lower temperatures lead to more females.
Endlers livebearers are peaceful fish who don’t often go after their own fry. Breeding in planted tanks gives young fish plenty of places to hide. Endlers should not be kept in tanks with other livebearers, guppies especially, unless you are ok with producing hybrid babies. Be prepared to find new homes for Endler babies if you breed, as these fish breed prolifically and can quickly overpopulate a tank. If you’d like to enjoy keeping Endlers without having to worry about them overpopulating, groups of males and females can be happily kept separately.
Fun Little Fish!
Although they are small, Endler’s livebearers make fascinating additions to peaceful freshwater aquariums. If you don’t mind them breeding, their courtship behaviors, especially from the males, are fascinating to watch. Even kept in single sex groups these are interesting little fish. They always seem to be on the go, exploring and searching for food. They may not be quite as fancy as some of the guppy species available in the hobby, but their fascinating history alone I think makes them a species worth preserving.
I think that’s about it! The only thing I didn’t really cover, as it would make this care sheet too long, is basic fish keeping stuff such as how to cycle an aquarium. Luckily I’ve written about that in the past, so check it out if you’re new to the aquarium hobby or starting out with a new tank! As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions!