Endler's Livebearer Tank Mates
Endler's livebearers are tiny, dazzling, peaceful cousins of the guppy — ideal for small planted communities.
Smaller and arguably more colourful than fancy guppies, Endlers are peaceful, hardy and easy to stock around. They interbreed freely with guppies and breed prolifically among themselves, so plan for population growth. The engine clears them against most peaceful nano and community fish.
Endler's Livebearer key facts
The sourced figures the engine uses to judge Endler's Livebearer pairings.
| Adult size | 3 cm |
|---|---|
| Minimum tank | 10 US gal |
| Minimum group | 3+ (pair/group) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Temperature range | 22–28°C |
| pH range | 7–8.5 |
| Bioload | Low |
| Swim level | All levels |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
Sources & confidence (11 species)
These back the Endler's Livebearer figures and the recommended tank mates above. Each figure is read from the TankStocking species database (v2026.06); below is the care reference behind it and how confident we are in that data. Confidence reflects the source quality, not whether any pairing is safe. Full source list and the welfare model are on the methodology page.
- Endler's Livebearer Poecilia wingei — Aquarium Co-Op Endler's care guide / The Aquarium Wiki (Poecilia wingei) high confidence
- Amano Shrimp Caridina multidentata — Aquarium Co-Op amano shrimp care; Aquadiction high confidence
- Assassin Snail Clea helena (Anentome helena) — The Shrimp Farm (theshrimpfarm.com/posts/assassin-snail-care) high confidence
- Black Neon Tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi — Seriously Fish / Aqua-Fish (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi) high confidence
- Black Phantom Tetra Hyphessobrycon megalopterus — Seriously Fish (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) high confidence
- Bleeding Heart Tetra Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma — Seriously Fish (Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma) high confidence
- Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/paracheirodon-axelrodi) high confidence
- Celestial Pearl Danio Celestichthys margaritatus — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/celestichthys-margaritatus) high confidence
- Checker Barb Oliotius oligolepis — Seriously Fish — Oliotius oligolepis (https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/oliotius-oligolepis/) high confidence
- Cherry Barb Puntius titteya — Seriously Fish (Puntius titteya) seriouslyfish.com/species/puntius-titteya high confidence
- Cherry Shrimp Neocaridina davidi — Aquarium Co-Op cherry shrimp care; The Shrimp Farm high confidence
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Verdict
Top Endler's Livebearer tank mates
A ranked shortlist: the species the engine clears with Endler's Livebearer and that suit its size and temperament best — tap any to load the exact pairing in the planner.
| Species | Adult size | Temp range | Min group | Swim level | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amano Shrimp | 5 cm | 18–27°C | 3+ (pair/group) | All levels | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Assassin Snail | 2 cm | 18–25°C | 1 | Bottom | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Black Neon Tetra | 3.5 cm | 23–27°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Black Phantom Tetra | 3.6 cm | 20–28°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | 6 cm | 21–28°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Cardinal Tetra | 3 cm | 23–29°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | 2.1 cm | 20–26°C | 8+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Checker Barb | 5 cm | 20–25°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Cherry Barb | 5 cm | 23–27°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Cherry Shrimp | 3 cm | 18–28°C | 6+ (pair/group) | All levels | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
Other engine-cleared options (not necessarily ideal)
These clear TankStocking's hard welfare checks with Endler's Livebearer, but are larger, bolder, or otherwise less ideal than the shortlist above — read up before committing.
Anabantoids (Bettas/Gouramis)
Corydoras
Invertebrates
Loaches
Oddball
Plecos & Catfish
Rasboras
Possible with care
These can work, but the engine flags something to watch — read the reason before you commit.
- Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) — Territorial
- Paradise Fish — Aggression
- Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (Apisto Cacatuoides) — Territorial
- Kribensis (Rainbow Krib) — Territorial
Best avoided
A hard welfare check fires for each of these — don't mix them with Endler's Livebearer.
- Chocolate Gourami — Species-only fish
- Kissing Gourami — Predation risk
- Licorice Gourami — Species-only fish
- Snakeskin Gourami — Predation risk
- Three-spot (Blue/Opaline/Gold) Gourami — Predation risk
- Bala Shark — Predation risk
- Denison Barb (Roseline Shark) — Predation risk
- Rosy Barb — Predation risk
- Tinfoil Barb — Predation risk
- Convict Cichlid — Predation risk, Aggression
- Discus — Temperature clash
- Electric Blue Acara — Predation risk
- Firemouth Cichlid — Predation risk, Territorial
- Freshwater Angelfish — Predation risk
Endler's Livebearer community ideas
Each build is scored by the same engine as the planner — tap one to load it.
Endler's nano community
✓ Good starter plan6× Endler's Livebearer, 8× Cherry Shrimp
Tiny, jewel-toned livebearers over a shrimp colony — a vibrant planted 10-gallon.
Load this build in the planner ↑Endler's + cory
✓ Good starter plan8× Endler's Livebearer, 6× Pygmy Corydoras
A small livebearer group with pygmy cories — both nano, both peaceful.
Load this build in the planner ↑Common questions
What fish can live with Endler's livebearers?
Small, peaceful community fish: pygmy corydoras, ember and neon tetras, small rasboras, and shrimp. Endlers are tiny and gentle, so keep tankmates calm and similarly sized.
Will Endler's livebearers breed with guppies?
Yes — they interbreed readily, producing hybrids. Keep them apart if you want to maintain pure Endler's strains.
Do Endler's livebearers need a big tank?
No — their small size suits a 10-gallon, but they breed quickly, so either keep one sex or be ready to rehome the offspring.
More on Endler's Livebearer
Related guides on TankStocking — each scored by the same welfare engine as the planner.
Can Endler's Livebearer live with…?
Compatibility is a planning estimate: individual temperament, tank layout, and group sizes all matter. Cycle the tank, add fish gradually, and watch how they behave. See the methodology or browse the full freshwater fish list.