Omnivore (micro-flake, crushed pellet, live foods)
Time
10 min daily; weekly water change
Cost
Low
Overview
Endler's livebearers are a close relative of the guppy from the warm coastal lagoons of Venezuela, with males showing orange, green, and black metallic patterning on a small body.
Pure strains are conservation-sensitive and worth keeping unmixed.
They are hardy, active, and smaller than guppies, which suits nano and planted aquariums.
Like all livebearers they reproduce quickly, so single-sex groups or population planning are wise from the start.
Housing
A cycled, heated tank from 38 litres (10 gallons) suits a colony, held at 22-28C (72-82F) in slightly hard, alkaline water.
Dense planting shows off their colours and gives fry refuge, while a gentle filter keeps the small fish from being buffeted.
Endlers stay near the surface and mid-water and tolerate a range of conditions, but appreciate stable parameters and low nitrate.
A lid is sensible, and avoid housing pure Endlers with guppies if you wish to preserve the strain.
Diet
Omnivorous and undemanding, Endlers take finely crushed flake or micro-pellets as a staple.
Supplement with spirulina, blanched veg, and small live or frozen foods such as daphnia, microworm, and baby brine shrimp, which improve the males' colours.
Their mouths are tiny, so grind dry food finely and feed small pinches once or twice daily.
Remove uneaten food promptly, as overfeeding a small, heavily stocked tank quickly degrades water quality.
Health
Endlers are robust when given clean, stable water.
The usual livebearer troubles, ich, fin rot, and internal parasites, tend to appear only after chilling, crowding, or poor maintenance.
Quarantine newcomers to protect an established colony.
Because they breed so freely, inbreeding can weaken closed colonies over generations, so introduce fresh, healthy stock occasionally.
Watch for wasting, clamped fins, or white spots and respond early with corrected parameters and appropriate treatment.
Temperament
Peaceful, lively, and constantly active, Endlers do best in groups where males display their colours.
They are too small to harass tankmates and make good peaceful community fish alongside other gentle, small species.
They are prolific breeders, and a mixed group will produce a steady stream of fry that adults may eat without plant cover.
Keep males only to avoid a population explosion, or provide dense planting if you want them to raise young.
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner