Tiger Endler Care Guide
Tiger Endler is an aquarium strain of Poecilia wingei, a small Venezuelan livebearer closely related to the guppy.
Overview
The Tiger Endler is an aquarium colour strain of Poecilia wingei, a small livebearer of the family Poeciliidae. According to FishBase and Wikipedia, the wild species is native to Venezuela and is closely related to the common guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Males are small and polychromatic, while females are larger and plainly coloured. The Tiger designation refers to the bold vertical bars selected for in the aquarium strain.
Taxonomy
- Family: Poeciliidae
- Genus: Poecilia
- Scientific name (species): Poecilia wingei Poeser, Kempkes & Isbrücker, 2005
- Note: "Tiger" is an aquarium strain, not a separate taxon
Habitat
Wikipedia reports that wild Poecilia wingei occurs on the Paria Peninsula in Venezuela, in lagoon systems such as Laguna de Patos, Laguna Campoma and connected streams. FishBase lists it as a tropical freshwater, benthopelagic species.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L (about 11 gal)
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 7.0-8.5
- GH: 10-25 °dGH
- Adult size: about 2-3 cm
- Lifespan: 1-3 years
Diet
The species is an omnivore (FishBase trophic level 2.9). Wikipedia notes it grazes on algae and microorganisms growing on aquatic plants; in the aquarium it accepts crushed flake food and small live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp.
Compatibility
Endlers are peaceful and active mid-water swimmers. They suit calm tanks with small invertebrates such as cherry shrimp and small bottom dwellers, and aggressive species should be avoided. A noted concern is that Poecilia wingei readily hybridises with the guppy, so the two should not be mixed if pure strains are to be maintained.
Breeding
Endlers are livebearers. Wikipedia reports that females give birth to live young roughly every 23 days, with broods ranging from a few to over 30 fry. Breeding is straightforward and occurs readily in a planted aquarium.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Endangered (FishBase, assessed 2021) for the wild Poecilia wingei. The aquarium strains are not assessed separately.