Staeck Endler (Poecilia wingei)
This particular strain of Endler was found by a German doctor called Dr Wolfgang Staeck, a resident in Berlin back in 2004 and subsequently who the strain was named after. Karen Koomans then got a hold of this fish, crossed a Staeck Guppy male with a Yellow Top Sword Endler female, and introduced the new line to the hobby as the 'Hamburg hybrid Endler strain'.
Staeck Endlers are rare, extremely active, look stunning, and hardy fish. These Endlers have become famous and popular due to their small size, peaceful temperament and appealing and unique appearance. These Endlers are suitable for the beginner aquarist and a novelty for the more advanced aquarist collector.
Endlers can be found swimming around in large groups, usually with more females than males; therefore, it would be best if you kept 3 to 4 females to every male. You can keep Staeck Endlers alongside other peaceful species that enjoy the same conditions. These can include Danios, Rasboras, Dwarf Barbs, Corydoras Catfish, Otocinclus Catfish and Loaches. Shrimp and snails can also make ideal tankmates. However, it would be best if you did not house these fish with much larger, more boisterous or aggressive species like Bettas and Cichlids as they may be harmed or get eaten. In addition, it would be best if you did not keep these fish with other Endlers or Guppies if you want to keep your strain pure, as hybridisation is inevitable.
The aquarium should be heavily planted and include floating plants which will help diffuse bright lighting as well as offer hiding places for fry. The water should be hard and alkaline, and decor is not essential, although you can add some if you want to, as this will provide more places for the fish to graze. These fish come from slow-flowing to still waters; therefore, a small air-powered sponge filter with a gentle flow is fine. Endlers are excellent jumpers, despite their small size; therefore, you should ensure your aquarium has a tight-fitting lid.
The Staeck Endler displays between one and three large black splotches that look like a mechanical pattern horizontally distributed on their body. They have an intense chromatic iridescent body ranging in various colours and patterns. Occasionally, you may find them with an incredible top swordtail, a bottom swordtail, or a double swordtail.
Staeck Endler (Poecilia wingei) Video
Staeck Endler (Poecilia wingei) - Endlers Livebearers Rare Hamburg Endlers - Profile & Care Guide
Photos
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Poecilia wingei |
| Year Described | 2004 |
| Other Names | Hamburg Endler |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Cyprinodontiformes |
| Family | Poeciliidae |
| Genus | Poecilia |
| Origins | Venezuela |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | No |
| Best kept as | Groups 6+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | livebearer |
| Lifespan | 3 - 5 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.0 - 7.5 |
| GH | 5 - 15 |
| KH | 2 - 8 |
| TDS | 180-400 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 75 - 85℉ 23.9 - 29.4℃ | |
Natural Habitat
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Staeck Endler will readily accept most good quality dried foods such as granules, flakes and sinking pellets. These modern food products have been developed to provide all adequate nutrition to maintain your fish's health and dietary requirements.
Providing additional foodstuffs such as live, frozen, and freeze-dried meals such as bloodworm, daphnia, and tubifex once or twice a week will provide additional benefits to your fish's health and well-being but is not a must for this fish.
It should be noted that bloodworms should only be given as an occasional treat and should not be used as the staple diet as they are difficult for fish to digest and can potentially cause blockages.
This fish is an omnivore in the wild, meaning it will consume some vegetable matter. Although most modern fish foods take this into account and include them in their products, you can still supplement your fish's diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. Ensure you do not overfeed your fish and remove any leftovers the following day.
Tank Mates
10 interesting tank mate ideas for the Staeck Endler could include:
Sexual Dimorphism
It is easy to differentiate between male and female Staeck Endlers. The males are smaller and much more vibrantly coloured and patterned than the females and possess various swordtails. In contrast, females are much larger, dull and plain-looking and lack the male's swordtail.
Breeding
Endlers are the easiest livebearers to breed as they do not predate on their fry anywhere near the level of other livebearers. Though when the colony gets going with more mouths to feed, the yield of try will lessen, and the colony will balance itself out. From our experience in keeping and breeding endlers, it seems the first batch of fry is most likely to be predated on, and once the adults are used to seeing fry around, they tend to leave subsequent fry drops alone.
Female Endlers will drop fry every 26-30 days depending on temperature; higher temperatures will shorten the gestation period. Females can start dropping fry from 2-3 months of age, although the smaller and younger the fish, the less fry they will drop. Some first drops can produce as little as 2-3 fry, and mature adult females can typically produce 30-50 fry.
If you wish to maximise the survival rate of your Staeck Endler fry, we recommend adding Guppy Grass to the aquarium. Guppy grass is a fast-growing and straightforward plant that provides a lot of coverage for the fry, which are most vulnerable for the first hour after being born before becoming free swimming. You can also use a cheap floating breeding Hatchery if you want to be sure no fry are lost but be prepared to be constantly diving into your aquarium to net out new fry every month.
In summary, the bigger question isn't how to breed endlers, but how do you *not breed* endlers :).