Endler Livebearer Colour Varieties: Tiger, Cobra, Sunburst and More

Endler livebearers pack extraordinary colour into a body barely 2.5 cm long, making them one of the most visually rewarding nano fish available to hobbyists. This guide to endler livebearer colour varieties from Gensou Aquascaping at 5 Everton Park, Singapore catalogues the major strains, explains classification systems and offers practical keeping advice. Poecilia wingei males display a dazzling array of colour patterns, and understanding the named varieties helps you build coherent breeding colonies and avoid unwanted hybridisation with common guppies.

Classification: N, P and K Classes

The endler community classifies fish into three categories. Class N fish are pure Poecilia wingei with documented wild-type lineage traceable to Venezuelan populations. Class P fish appear to be pure endlers but lack verified provenance. Class K fish are known endler-guppy hybrids. For breeding purposes, maintaining class N purity matters most, as these fish preserve the wild genetics of a species with a limited natural range. Class K hybrids, while often stunningly colourful, should not be sold or traded as pure endlers. Most fish available at local shops in Singapore fall into class P or K categories.

Tiger Endler

The Tiger endler features bold orange and black vertical striping across the body, reminiscent of a tiny tiger. Males display intense orange flanks bisected by dark bars, with metallic green or blue highlights near the tail. This is one of the most popular and widely available varieties in Singapore, typically priced at $3 to $5 per pair. Tigers breed true with reasonable consistency, making them an excellent starting point for hobbyists interested in selective line breeding.

Cobra and Snakeskin Varieties

Cobra endlers exhibit a complex snakeskin-like pattern of dark markings over a bright base colour, usually orange or yellow-green. The El Silverado strain, a particularly striking cobra variant, shows metallic silver body colouration with dark snake markings and a bright orange chest patch. Santa Maria endlers carry a deep red-orange body with dark dorsal patches and are sometimes grouped within the cobra family. These patterned varieties add visual complexity beyond solid colours and photograph exceptionally well in planted nano tanks.

Sunburst and Flame Varieties

Sunburst endlers display vivid yellow to orange colouration covering most of the body, with minimal dark patterning. The effect is a small fish that glows like a tiny flame against green plants or dark substrate. Flame endlers push this further with deep red-orange coverage. Both varieties show their best colour under moderate to strong lighting and against a dark background. Feed colour-enhancing foods containing astaxanthin and spirulina to maintain pigment intensity. Males from well-maintained lines are genuinely breathtaking in a densely planted nano setup.

Black Bar and Japan Blue

The Black Bar endler is closest to the original wild-type pattern: a prominent dark vertical bar on the mid-body flanked by metallic green, orange and iridescent blue patches. This strain is valued by purists for its genetic integrity. Japan Blue endlers, while technically a guppy-endler hybrid (class K), are popular for their striking metallic blue tail and lower body colouration. They breed readily in Singapore’s warm water and are widely available at $2 to $4 per pair on Carousell and at local shops along Thomson Road.

Keeping and Breeding

Endlers thrive in nano tanks of 20 litres or more, with temperatures of 24 to 30 degrees Celsius. Singapore’s ambient warmth eliminates the need for a heater. PUB tap water suits them well after dechlorination, though they appreciate slightly harder water. Add a small amount of crushed coral to the filter if your water is very soft. Feed a mix of crushed flake, micro pellets, baby brine shrimp and blanched vegetables. Endlers breed prolifically, with females producing 5 to 15 fry every 23 to 28 days. Dense planting with Java moss, Ceratophyllum or Najas provides fry cover and improves survival rates without separating them from adults.

Maintaining Line Purity

To preserve a specific colour variety, keep only one strain per tank. Endlers cross freely with each other and with common guppies (Poecilia reticulata), producing offspring with unpredictable colour patterns. If you keep multiple strains, house each in a separate tank with its own colony of females. Label your tanks clearly and keep records of lineage. Serious breeders in Singapore’s endler community maintain strict separation and trade surplus fish within dedicated groups to prevent genetic contamination.

Where to Source Quality Endlers in Singapore

Local fish shops carry common varieties like Tigers and Black Bars, but rarer strains such as El Silverado, Santa Maria and pure class N lines are best sourced from specialist breeders. Facebook groups like Singapore Endler and Guppy Society and listings on Carousell connect buyers with local breeders who can provide strain provenance and care history. Expect to pay $5 to $15 per pair for common varieties and $15 to $30 for rarer or documented class N strains. A breeding trio of one male and two females is the ideal starting purchase for establishing a new line.

Related Reading

• Endler Livebearer Colour Strains: Tiger, Black Bar and Flame
• Endler Guppy Hybrid Colour Strains: Tiger, Cobra and Santa Maria
• Endler Livebearer Hybrid Guide: Crosses, Classes and Keeping
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