Endler’s guppy - Poecilia wingei

Scientific name: Poecilia wingei

Common name: Endler’s guppy

Family: Poeciliidae

Usual size in fish tanks: 2 - 3 cm (0.79 - 1.18 inch)

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Recommended pH range for the species: 6.7 - 7.6

Recommended water hardness (dGH): 4 - 17°N (71.43 - 303.57ppm)

0°C 32°F30°C 86°F

Recommended temperature: 22 - 26 °C (71.6 - 78.8°F)

The way how these fish reproduce: Pseudo-Livebearer

Where the species comes from: South America

Temperament to its own species: peaceful

Temperament toward other fish species: peaceful

Usual place in the tank: Top levels

Origin

South America, Endler’s guppies are to be found in the Paria Peninsula, Venezuela.

Lifespan

The expected life span for Poecilia wingei is 3-5 years.

General care

These fish do best in groups but they are very active so even with their small adult size they will require a tank with swimming space, an aquarium that contains at least 20 gallons of water volume should be sufficient and add plants to provide hiding places, using floating plants will also help to diffuse the aquarium lights creating dimmer conditions which these fish prefer. They are classed as a peaceful species and can be kept with other peaceful species of a similar size, keeping them with larger fish may tempt fate and they could become a meal for other species. Males are not territorial, strangely enough it is the females that may bicker and beome aggressive towards each other, especially at spawning times. Outnumbering the males with females should prevent single female specimens from being bullied. They will tolerate a wide range of water parameters but they do prefer a harder alkaline pH rather than acidic conditions.

Food and feeding

Provide these fish with an algae based flake food and small pellets. For treats supply Endler’s guppies with blood worms, brine shrimp and tubifex, they are classed as omnivorous so should accept all foods offered.

Sexing

The males will display a high colouration and may have slightly extended tail fins. Females, when mature will display a gravid spot near their anal fin. The females will also possess a plumper body shape, more often than not with mature specimens this will mean that the females are gravid on a regular basis.

Breeding

Poecilia wingei breed prolifically just like their guppy cousins, in fact if kept with guppies, hybridisation will occur. The females will give birth to live fry every 23 days, these can be fed on newly hatched brine shrimp or crushed flake straight away. The juveniles will not develop their colouration until they are at least 3-4 weeks old. Like many livebearers, if stressed the females may eat their young but if kept in the general aquarium the constant spawning will produce a larger group. However if you wish to breed these for a hobby then it is advised to separate the gravid female into a separate breeding tank to optimise the highest rate of survival.

Short description

Always use a tight fitting lid with Endlers as Endler’s guppies are very good jumpers. It is best to keep them in a species tank because of their size. It is best to keep 2-3 females with each male.