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FishbeginnerFreshwater

Blue Star Endler

Poecilia wingei

AnimaliaChordataActinopterygii

Variety of Endler's Livebearer · Blue Star

📍 Venezuela

Ask Finn

A striking Endler variety distinguished by an iridescent blue star or patch on the male's flank, often contrasted against an orange or black background. Males stay under 1 inch and display vivid colors rivaling fancy guppies, making this a prized variety for nano and planted tanks.

Size1.2"
Min Tank5g
School3+
peaceful
Zonetop

Care Guide

Diet

Blue Star Endlers are omnivorous and thrive on high-quality micro pellets, small flake foods, and occasional live or frozen foods like brine shrimp and daphnia. Feed small amounts once daily, only what they can consume in 2-3 minutes. Supplement with vegetable matter such as blanched spinach or algae-based foods to support color vibrancy and overall health.

Behavior

These are active, peaceful fish that spend most of their time in the upper water column, darting between plants and décor. Males display vibrant colors and may chase females during breeding season, but aggression toward other species is minimal. They are social and should be kept in groups of at least 3, preferably more, to reduce stress and encourage natural schooling behavior.

Breeding

Blue Star Endlers breed readily in captivity with minimal intervention, making them excellent for beginners interested in livebearing fish. Females produce 5-20 fry every 23-30 days when kept in warm, well-planted tanks with stable conditions. Provide dense vegetation like Java moss or stem plants to protect fry from predation by adults.

Common Diseases

Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)

Symptoms

White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, lethargy, rubbing against décor

Treatment

Raise temperature to 28-30°C, perform daily 25% water changes, use aquarium salt (1 tsp per 5 gallons) or commercial ich treatment; treat for 7-10 days

Fin Rot

Symptoms

Frayed or deteriorating fin edges, discoloration at fin bases, lethargy

Treatment

Improve water quality with frequent partial water changes, remove uneaten food, treat with antibacterial medication if severe; ensure good filtration

Velvet Disease (Oodinium)

Symptoms

Fine golden or rust-colored dust on body, rapid breathing, clamped fins, scratching

Treatment

Increase aeration, raise temperature to 28-30°C, perform daily water changes, use copper-free velvet treatment; quarantine affected fish if possible

Constipation

Symptoms

Bloated appearance, reduced feeding, lethargy, stringy feces

Treatment

Offer blanched vegetables and live foods like daphnia; skip one feeding day; ensure varied diet with adequate fiber content

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Water it likes

ph
7.0–8.5
ammonia
0 ppm
nitrate
<20 ppm
temperature
72–82°F (22–28°C)

Stats

Community tips0
Kept by0 hobbyists