Endler's livebearer Tank Mates
Short answer: the best endler's livebearer tank mates are Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Platy, Amano shrimp. Endlers need 75–86 °F (24–30 °C), pH 7–8.5 and at least 10 gallons. Keep them in a group of 3 or more.
Endler's livebearer care at a glance
| Adult size | 1.2 in (3 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 10 US gallons |
| Temperature | 75–86 °F (24–30 °C) |
| pH | 7–8.5 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Top |
| Group size | Groups of 3+ |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (44)
- Guppy
- Bristlenose pleco
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Platy
- Tiger barb
- Amano shrimp
- Celestial pearl danio
- Chili rasbora
- Ember tetra
- Mystery snail
- Otocinclus
- Black skirt tetra
- Bronze cory
- Cardinal tetra
- Cherry barb
- German blue ram
- Glowlight tetra
- Honey gourami
- Kuhli loach
- Rummy nose tetra
- Serpae tetra
- Swordtail
- Discus
- Rainbow shark
- Red tail shark
- Siamese algae eater
- Common pleco
- Clown loach
- Pygmy cory
- Sparkling gourami
- Black neon tetra
- Bloodfin tetra
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Forktail blue-eye
- Glass catfish
- Lemon tetra
- Sterbai cory
- X-ray tetra
- Buenos Aires tetra
- Congo tetra
- Upside-down catfish
- Boesemani rainbowfish
- Bolivian ram
⚠️ Possible with caution (11)
- Cherry shrimp — Endler's livebearer will eat baby cherry shrimp (and some individuals hunt adults), so a shrimp colony may not grow. Dense plants and moss help.
- Betta fish — Betta fish is a much larger territorial fish and may bully Endler's livebearer.
- Dwarf gourami — Dwarf gourami is a much larger territorial fish and may bully Endler's livebearer.
- Neon tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Endler's livebearer 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Neon tetra 21–25 °C (70–77 °F).
- Nerite snail — Very narrow shared temperature range: Endler's livebearer 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Nerite snail 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Panda cory — Very narrow shared temperature range: Endler's livebearer 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Zebra danio — Very narrow shared temperature range: Endler's livebearer 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Zebra danio 18–25 °C (64–77 °F).
- Kribensis — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) may try to eat smaller Endler's livebearer (3 cm), especially at night.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Cockatoo dwarf cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully Endler's livebearer.
- Odessa barb — Very narrow shared temperature range: Endler's livebearer 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Chinese algae eater — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
❌ Not recommended (16)
- Fancy goldfish — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Endler's livebearer 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F).
- Angelfish — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat Endler's livebearer (3 cm).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Endler's livebearer (3 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful Endler's livebearer.
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Endler's livebearer 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
- Pearl gourami — An adult pearl gourami (up to 12 cm) is big enough to eat Endler's livebearer (3 cm).
- Three spot gourami — An adult three spot gourami (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat Endler's livebearer (3 cm).
- Electric yellow cichlid — Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid: it needs hard, alkaline water and an African-cichlid community, and is too boisterous for Endler's livebearer.
- Paradise fish — No comfortable shared temperature: Endler's livebearer 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F).
- Peppered cory — No comfortable shared temperature: Endler's livebearer 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Convict cichlid — An adult convict cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat Endler's livebearer (3 cm).
- Gold barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Endler's livebearer 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Gold barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Rosy barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Endler's livebearer 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Firemouth cichlid — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat Endler's livebearer (3 cm).
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat Endler's livebearer (3 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Endler's livebearer (3 cm).
How many Endlers per tank?
10 gal 20 gal 29 gal 40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with Endlers?
Good matches include Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Platy, Amano shrimp. They share a temperature range with Endlers (75–86 °F (24–30 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with Endlers?
Avoid Fancy goldfish, Angelfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, White cloud mountain minnow, Pearl gourami.
What size tank do Endlers need?
We recommend at least 10 US gallons for a group of 3 Endlers, more if you add tank mates.
Can Endlers live alone?
No. Endlers are social and should be kept in groups of at least 3.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.