Calico Endler (Poecilia wingei) – Vibrant Livebearer with Iridescent Multi-Color Patterns, Hardy and Perfect for Nano Aquariums

Bring color, movement, and natural balance to your aquarium with the Calico Endler (Poecilia wingei), a dazzling livebearer prized for its vivid, multicolored patterns, energetic personality, and remarkable hardiness. Originating from the clear, warm waters of northern Venezuela, this small freshwater fish offers a kaleidoscope of color in every fin, displaying brilliant orange, black, blue, yellow, and iridescent green hues that shimmer under aquarium lighting.

A close relative of the guppy, the Calico Endler is smaller, more vibrant, and beloved by aquarists for its peaceful nature and ease of care, making it ideal for nano tanks, community aquariums, or breeding projects.

🌿 Key Features

• Striking Multicolor Pattern: Each Calico Endler displays a unique mix of orange, black, yellow, and metallic tones, no two are ever the same.

• Small & Active: Perfect for aquariums as small as 5 gallons.

• Hardy and Adaptable: Tolerant of a wide range of water parameters.

• Peaceful Livebearer: Ideal for community tanks with shrimp, snails, and small fish.

• Prolific Breeder: Easy to breed and raise fry, even for beginners.

• Sustainably Bred: Responsibly tank-raised and acclimated before shipping.

🐟 Species Overview

• Scientific Name: Poecilia wingei

• Common Name: Calico Endler

• Origin: Lake Valencia region, Venezuela

• Temperament: Peaceful

• Diet: Omnivore (enjoys algae, flakes, pellets, and live/frozen foods)

• Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)

• pH: 6.8–8.0

• Hardness: 8–20 dGH

• Adult Size: 0.8–1.2 inches (2–3 cm)

• Lifespan: 2–3 years with proper care

💧 Aquarium Care & Setup

The Calico Endler thrives in well-filtered, planted aquariums with stable water conditions. Its small size and gentle temperament make it an excellent choice for nano setups, desktop aquariums, or community tanks featuring shrimp, snails, and peaceful fish species.

🪴 Tank Recommendations

• Tank Size: Minimum 5 gallons for a small colony (10+ gallons preferred).

• Filtration: Sponge filters or gentle flow filters work best to protect fry.

• Plants: Java moss, hornwort, guppy grass, and floating plants create hiding spots and comfort.

• Lighting: Moderate lighting to enhance iridescent colors.

• Substrate: Sand or fine gravel.

• Tank Mates: Cherry shrimp, snails, Corydoras, small tetras, and peaceful rasboras.

Regular partial water changes (20–30% weekly) and a balanced diet will keep your Endlers healthy and full of color.

🍽️ Feeding

Calico Endlers are omnivorous and thrive on a varied diet:

• High-quality tropical flakes or micro pellets.

• Algae wafers or spirulina-based foods to maintain color.

• Frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, or micro worms for breeding and conditioning.

• Occasional blanched vegetables like zucchini or spinach for plant-based nutrients.

Feed small portions 1–2 times daily, ensuring all food is consumed within a few minutes.

🐣 Breeding Information

Like guppies, Calico Endlers are livebearers, giving birth to free-swimming fry. They breed readily in stable, clean water with plenty of plant cover.

• Gestation: 3–4 weeks

• Fry Care: Provide moss or floating plants for shelter; feed newly hatched brine shrimp or powdered fry food.

• Colony Breeding: Many hobbyists keep males and females together for self-sustaining colonies, simply provide plants and stable water quality.

Endlers rarely eat their young, making them one of the easiest freshwater fish to breed at home.

🌈 Why Choose Calico Endlers?

The Calico Endler combines beauty, hardiness, and activity in a small, low-maintenance package. Each fish flashes unique iridescent patterns that shift as they swim, creating a living mosaic of color.

Perfect for beginners, collectors, and breeders, these fish add a playful dynamic to any freshwater setup while helping maintain ecological balance by grazing on algae and detritus.

🌍 Sustainability & Shipping

All Calico Endlers from Terra Mater Gardens are ethically and sustainably bred in controlled environments, ensuring robust, disease-free fish. We prioritize fast, insulated shipping to ensure your live fish arrive healthy and ready to thrive.

💧 Live Arrival Guarantee: We take great care in packaging and shipping live fish. Please ensure someone is available to receive your order upon delivery.

✨ Highlights

• Vibrant, iridescent multi-color patterning

• Hardy and beginner-friendly

• Great for nano aquariums and planted tanks

• Peaceful community fish

• Easy to breed, perfect for livebearer enthusiasts

• Sustainable, tank-bred lineage

🐠 Add a Splash of Living Art to Your Aquarium

With their colorful patterns, active behavior, and undemanding care, Calico Endlers are living jewels that never fail to impress. Whether you’re building a peaceful planted nano tank or a dynamic breeding colony, this stunning livebearer offers endless beauty and enjoyment, naturally and sustainably.