Wild Endler

Wild Endlers are small, colourful livebearers known for their constant activity, hardy nature, and striking natural colour patterns. Closely related to guppies, Endlers (Poecilia wingei) originate from north-eastern Venezuela, where they inhabit warm, shallow bodies of water. Wild-type males display vibrant flashes of orange, green, black and metallic blue, while females are larger and generally silver-grey. Their small size and peaceful nature make them an excellent choice for planted community aquariums.

Maximum adult size: Males approximately 2–2.5 cm; females approximately 3–4 cm.

Temperament: Peaceful, active and social. Wild Endlers are best kept in groups and mix well with other small, non-aggressive species. Males frequently court females, so keeping several females per male is recommended where mixed sexes are maintained.

Difficulty of care: Easy. A hardy species suitable for beginners, although good filtration, stable water conditions and regular maintenance are still important.

Preferred Temperature: 22–28 °C, with approximately 24–26 °C providing a good general range.

Preferred pH of water: Approximately 7.0–8.0. Endlers generally prefer moderately hard to hard, mineral-rich water rather than very soft, acidic conditions.

Type of breeding: Livebearer. Females give birth to fully formed, free-swimming fry rather than laying eggs. They breed readily under suitable conditions, and dense plants or moss provide useful cover for newborn fry.

Wild Endlers are omnivorous and should be offered a varied diet of quality fine flakes or small granules alongside foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and other suitably sized frozen or live foods. They will also graze on algae and microorganisms within a mature aquarium.

A planted aquarium with open swimming areas suits them particularly well. Their energetic behaviour, tiny size and naturally varied markings make Wild Endlers an attractive option for nano and community aquariums. As Endlers can hybridise readily with guppies, they should be kept separately from guppies if maintaining a pure Endler population is important.