Common name
Endler’s livebearer
Scientific name
Poecilia wingei
Category
Freshwater fish
Group
Livebearers
Environment
Freshwater
Origin
North-eastern Venezuela; pure wild-derived lines have a restricted origin and many aquarium fish are hybrids
Care level
Beginner
Adult size
2–4 cm
Expected lifespan
2–5 years
Minimum housing
At least 60 L for a managed colony or single-sex display group
Temperature
22–28 °C
pH
7.0–8.2
Hardness / minerals
Moderate to hard
Salinity
Freshwater
Lighting
Normal planted-aquarium lighting with floating cover
Placement / swimming zone
All levels, especially upper and middle water

Identity and search names

This profile applies to Poecilia wingei. Confirm trade identity and preserve breeder, supplier or locality records where relevant.

Environment and housing

Planted hard-water aquarium with open swimming room, floating refuge and protected fry cover

Feeding and nutrition

Feeding ecology: Omnivore grazing algae and biofilm while taking small invertebrates and varied prepared foods

Feeding routine: Feed small varied portions once or twice daily and include plant-rich foods

Breeding and reproduction

Internal fertilisation and live birth; females can store sperm and produce repeated broods after separation from males

Parental care: No parental care; adults may eat fry

System demands

Filtration: Use mature biological filtration sized for the adult stock and feeding load, with guarded intakes and a flow pattern the species can use without continual effort.

Aeration: Maintain strong gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen, especially overnight, during warm weather, medication, crowding or any interruption to filtration.

Maintenance: Test ammonia and nitrite after changes or abnormal behaviour; remove waste from the occupied zone and perform regular water changes matched to temperature and mineral chemistry.

Detailed husbandry

Identity scope
This profile applies to Poecilia wingei. Confirm trade identity and preserve breeder, supplier or locality records where relevant.
Adult size and space
2–4 cm. At least 60 L for a managed colony or single-sex display group. Plan around adult dimensions, activity, group size, aggression and waste production rather than sale size.
Social structure
Use an all-male display group or maintain at least two to three females per male with enough cover to escape persistent courtship
Swimming zone
Primary zone: Mid to upper water. Keep that zone usable for movement, feeding and refuge.
Feeding ecology
Omnivore grazing algae and biofilm while taking small invertebrates and varied prepared foods
Feeding plan
Feed small varied portions once or twice daily and include plant-rich foods
Water stability
Maintain 22–28 °C; pH 7.0–8.2; hardness/minerals: Moderate to hard. Stable oxygenation and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact number.
Habitat structure
Planted hard-water aquarium with open swimming room, floating refuge and protected fry cover
Compatibility plan
Use with peaceful hard-water fish; never mix with guppies where pure-line preservation matters
Breeding plan
Internal fertilisation and live birth; females can store sperm and produce repeated broods after separation from males. Parental care: No parental care; adults may eat fry.
Quarantine
Quarantine new fish in a separate cycled aquarium with dedicated equipment. Match temperature and mineral chemistry gradually, confirm feeding and normal respiration, and never add transport water to the established aquarium.
Welfare checks
Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. Poecilia wingei hybridises freely with guppies and many pet-trade “Endlers” are hybrids. Undocumented fish must not be sold as pure wild-derived lines.
Biosecurity and release
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.
Main risk
Poecilia wingei hybridises freely with guppies and many pet-trade “Endlers” are hybrids. Undocumented fish must not be sold as pure wild-derived lines.
Adult Projected Load
Moderate to high once rapid reproduction is included; a small starting group can quickly exceed filtration, oxygen and housing capacity.
Filtration
Use mature mechanical and biological filtration with protected intakes and enough turnover for the adult group while preserving species-appropriate current and refuge.
Aeration
Provide strong gas exchange and backup aeration; increase oxygen support before warm weather, heavy feeding, crowding, medication or filter interruption reduces the safety margin.
Maintenance
Remove uneaten food and bottom waste, clean prefilters before flow falls, test ammonia and nitrite after changes, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes.
Overridable Warnings
Population control, hybridisation records, sex ratio, mineral stability, quarantine and no-release obligations cannot be overridden.

Welfare and risk

Main risk

Poecilia wingei hybridises freely with guppies and many pet-trade “Endlers” are hybrids. Undocumented fish must not be sold as pure wild-derived lines.

Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. Poecilia wingei hybridises freely with guppies and many pet-trade “Endlers” are hybrids. Undocumented fish must not be sold as pure wild-derived lines.

Non-overridable warning

Population control, hybridisation records, sex ratio, mineral stability, quarantine and no-release obligations cannot be overridden.

Sources

Source note

CURRENT