Care Level: Easy

Temperament: Peaceful

Live Plant Safe: Yes

General Description: The Japanese Blue Endler’s Livebearer is a selectively bred ornamental strain from the ancestral wild-type Endler’s Livebearer (Poecilia wingei) that comes from northeastern South America, particularly in Venezuela. One of the most adaptable fish in the aquarium trade, endler’s are peaceful fish with clear sexual dimorphism between males and females. Males are smaller and more colorful than females who are more robust and plain. Female endler’s may closely resemble the female Guppy (Poecilia reticulata). A male Japanese blue endler will have an overall light blue body with a tail that appears forked due to the blue color extending along each edge. Endler’s are livebearers, meaning that females will produce live fry (i.e., offspring) in abundance. It is best to keep multiple females per a single male, as male endler’s tend to frequently harass females. These fish are very prolific without intervention, and sperm from males can be stored in females for several months. If you want to avoid your tank filling up with endler’s, we advise to stick to purchasing one sex. Mixing endler’s with guppies is not recommended as cross-breeding will occur. Adult male endler’s can reach a size of approximately 1″, while females can be up to 2″.

Diet Requirements: Endler’s are one of the unfussiest aquarium fishes. A diet made up of various high quality vegetable based and protein based flake foods, sinking micro pellet foods and bug bites are ideal, in addition to offering frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia. Variety is the spice of life in order to maintain color, immune function and longevity of your fish.

Care Requirements: An established minimum 5 to 10 gallon aquarium is ideal for a small group of Japanese blue endler’s, or endler’s in general. Size up accordingly to accomodate a larger group, or if you intend to breed endler’s. While Japanese blue endler’s are relatively hardy and easy to care for, they would do best introduced into a biologically mature aquarium. Certain endler’s can be sensitive to water parameters given the extent of selective breeding over decades. The aquarium does not need to be aquascaped with anything in particular, but endler’s do appreciate live plants and floating plant material. Tank mates that will nip at the somewhat decorative fins of male endler’s (e.g., certain barbs and tetras) should be avoided. Japanese blue endler’s can be mixed with docile tetra, rasbora and corydoras catfish for example. Different ornamental strains of endler’s can be kept together with success, but be aware that the “quality” of their offspring and subsequent generations will be decreased from mixing two, or more, very different gene pools. Serious endler breeders often stick to a single color strain to ensure that the genetic integrity of that type is maintained. Recommended water conditions, 72-82° F, KH 15-35, pH 7.0-8.5.

Purchase Size: Medium: 3/4” to 1”

Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.