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Contents
Overview
Endler's livebearer is a close relative of the common guppy, smaller and wilder looking. Males reach only about 1 in (2.5 cm) and mix metallic green, bright orange and black spots, often with a double-sword pattern on the tail; females grow to around 1.4 in (3.5 cm) and are grayish. It comes from the Cumaná area of northeastern Venezuela, where it lives in warm, hard-water lagoons and canals.
Keepers love it because it never stops moving, is very hardy and fits perfectly in small planted tanks, even with shrimp. It is an excellent choice for beginners and for anyone who wants guppy color without the long, fragile fins of show strains.
Care and tank setup
A cycled 10-gallon (40 L) tank is enough for a small group, but remember they breed nonstop: if you keep males and females, 15 gallons (60 L) or more gives you room.
- Water: moderately hard to hard, neutral to alkaline pH, warm and stable at 72-82 °F (22-28 °C). Change 20-30% weekly.
- Group: several males together put on a constant display with no serious fights. With females, aim for 2-3 per male.
- Decor: dense plants, moss and floaters where females and fry can hide. Gentle flow.
- Tank mates: dwarf shrimp, snails, pygmy corydoras, otocinclus, small rasboras or small calm tetras.
A key point: do not mix them with guppies. The two interbreed readily, and the hybrid offspring dilute pure Endler lines. And never release them into the wild.
Feeding
An eager omnivore. It eats fine flakes, micro pellets and powdered foods, and appreciates baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops and some plant matter such as spirulina. Its mouth is small, so crush larger flakes. Two small meals a day are plenty; it also picks at fine algae among the plants. It also grazes biofilm on plants and stones, so a mature tank is a real bonus, especially for the fry.
Breeding
A prolific livebearer: every 3-4 weeks the female drops a small brood of about 5 to 25 fry, and she can store sperm. Adults eat fewer fry than guppies do, but moss and floating plants still improve survival. Fry take powdered food and baby brine shrimp right away and grow quickly.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Endler's livebearer. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Bristlenose pleco Ancistrus sp. 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Cherry barb Puntius titteya 16 gal (60 L) · 73–81 °F (23–27 °C) 
Tiger barb Puntigrus tetrazona 26 gal (100 L) · 72–79 °F (22–26 °C) 
Bronze cory Corydoras aeneus 21 gal (80 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Harlequin rasbora Trigonostigma heteromorpha 16 gal (60 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Ember tetra Hyphessobrycon amandae 11 gal (40 L) · 73–82 °F (23–28 °C) 
Neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi 16 gal (60 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) 
Betta fish Betta splendens 7 gal (25 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Nerite snail Neritina natalensis 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Horned nerite snail Clithon corona 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Panda cory Corydoras panda 16 gal (60 L) · 68–77 °F (20–25 °C) 
Zebra danio Danio rerio 16 gal (60 L) · 64–77 °F (18–25 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Endler's livebearer, and why.
- Common goldfish: one may eat the other due to size
- Discus: incompatible temperatures, incompatible pH, one may eat the other due to size
- Angelfish: one may eat the other due to size
- Yellow lab cichlid: one may eat the other due to size
- Clown loach: one may eat the other due to size
- Oranda goldfish: one may eat the other due to size
- Oscar: one may eat the other due to size, incompatible temperaments
- Swordtail: one may eat the other due to size
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Endler's livebearer healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Endler's livebearer need?
At least about 40 liters for a group of at least 3 fish. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Endler's livebearer need?
Between 22 and 28 °C, with a pH of 7 to 8.2.
What fish can live with the Endler's livebearer?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Bristlenose pleco, Cherry barb, Tiger barb, Bronze cory and Harlequin rasbora. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
Can the Endler's livebearer be kept with shrimp?
Yes: it usually won’t eat adult shrimp, though some shrimplets may get picked off. A tank with plenty of moss gives the babies cover.
