Endlers vs. Guppies: Which is the Best for Your Aquarium?

From platies and swordtails to brightly colored mollies, livebearers are popular additions to the community freshwater aquarium. If you want to introduce a rainbow of color and vibrant activity into your community tank, however, you might be considering guppies or even their lookalike, Endlers.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the differences between guppies vs Endlers to help you determine which option is best for your aquarium.

Guppy Species Overview

•       Scientific Name: Poecilia reticulata
•       Other Names: fancy guppy, million fish, rainbow fish
•       Size: 1-2 inches
•       Lifespan: 2 years

Known for their bright colors and prolific breeding habits, guppies are small freshwater tropical fish native to South America. Because they’re highly adaptable, however, guppies have been introduced to environments around the world. They’ve also been subject to extensive selective breeding by aquarium hobbyists.

Endler Species Overview

•       Scientific Name: Poecilia wingei
•       Other Names: Endler, Endler’s livebearer
•       Size: 1-2 inches
•       Lifespan: 2-3 years

Similar in size and appearance to guppies, Endlers are native to the Paria Peninsula in Venezuela. They’re closely related to guppies and able to hybridize with them, producing fish commonly sold under the name Endler’s guppy. This species is named after Dr. John Endler who introduced them into the pet trade.

Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

Both guppies and Endlers are tropical freshwater fish and, because they share millions of years of genetic history, their tank requirements remain very similar. A pair or trio of guppies or Endlers can be kept in an aquarium as small as five gallons. Due to their propensity for breeding, however, a minimum of 10 to 20 gallons is preferable.

Endlers and guppies are best kept in groups with others of their kind. However, as males of both species are tireless in courtship, it’s wise to keep a larger ratio of female-to-male fish to keep the females from being constantly pursued. Both guppies and Endlers can live in harmony with other peaceful community fish as long as the other fish aren’t large enough to prey on them.

In terms of water parameters, guppies and Endlers have similar requirements, but consistency is key. While Endlers can tolerate a wide pH range from 6.5 to 8.5 and nearly any level of water hardness, modern guppy strains tend to be less resilient due to inbreeding. In certain climates, Endlers may not need a heated tank but a tank for guppies should be maintained at a temperature between 72°F and 78°F. Guppies prefer hard water with a pH over 7.0.

Feeding Endlers vs. Guppies

Neither Endlers nor guppies are picky eaters—they’ll accept most foods as long as they’re small enough. Both species are also skilled scavengers, feeding at the water surface and picking food out of the substrate. They may even feed on natural algae growth in the tank.

While these little livebearers aren’t picky, it’s important to choose appropriate foods and to incorporate variety into their diet. A staple diet of tropical flakes or mini pellets is ideal to make sure your fish get the essential nutrients they need. Incorporating nutrient-dense live and frozen foods like daphnia and baby brine shrimp will encourage healthy growth and vibrant coloration.

Both Endlers and guppies are active fish, and they tend to beg for food at the surface. Limit feeding to once or twice a day, as overfeeding can cause constipation and lead to other health problems. If you’re raising fry, you may want to feed the fish more often but be sure to reduce the size of each meal to prevent overfeeding.

Sexing and Breeding

As with other livebearers, both Endlers and guppies are easy to breed. All you need is stable tank conditions, nutritious food, and at least one male and one female. Males of both species tend to be more colorful than females, though mature females are usually a little larger than the males.

With a mature group of healthy guppies or Endlers, you should expect to see fry about once a month. Keep in mind that neither species is averse to eating their young. If you want to increase survival rates, provide cover for the babies—dense plants like guppy grass or water sprite work well. Consider covering the intake of your filter with a sponge as well, to keep the fry from getting sucked up.

Both guppies and Endlers will breed without much involvement but if you plan to breed your fish for sale, be intentional about keeping only one species. Guppies and Endlers can breed and produce fertile offspring—they’re usually called Endler guppies. Such hybrids can be quite beautiful but may be more difficult to sell. If you’re breeding solely to stock your tank, however, Endler guppies could be a perfect fit.

Which Species Is Right for You?

Both guppies and Endlers make wonderful additions to the community tank and both are equally easy to breed. Your choice may come down to availability or your own experience as an aquarium hobbyist. While Endlers are becoming more common in pet stores, guppies are always easy to find. That said, if you’re purchasing your fish online there’s no limit to the possibilities.

Practically speaking, Endlers may be a more appropriate choice for inexperienced aquarium hobbyists due to their hardy nature. Guppies are by no means difficult to keep, but they’re a little less resilient in terms of water chemistry and tank temperature. If you’re able to maintain a stable tank environment, however, either species would do well.

There’s no right or wrong answer in the argument of Endlers vs guppies—both are beautiful, entertaining little fish perfectly suited to freshwater community tanks.

Contact us today to start your perfect freshwater aquarium.