How big do Endlers get?

Group of male Orchid Endlers
Group of male Orchid Endlers

Pure Endlers

Male adult pure Endlers are all generally the same size reaching a length of approximately 3/4″ – 1″ long.  They will usually have a somewhat long slender body and bright coloration.

Pure adult female Endlers average approximately 1-1/4″ to 2″ however we have on occasion seen them grow to nearly 2-1/2″ to 3″ in very large aquariums under ideal conditions.

Hybrid Endlers

hybrid Endlers
Male hybrid Endlers are usually larger and thicker than pure male Endlers.

Because hybrid Endlers are usually hybridized with guppies their size can be influenced by the guppy genes.  

Hybrid Endlers tend to be larger and stockier than their pure counterparts, especially the males.

We prefer to raise hybrid Endlers that are more similar to Endlers than guppies with smaller sleeker bodies.

How Fast Do They Grow?

Each Endler and Endler hybrid strain develops at a slightly different rate.  Water temperature, water conditions, food and lighting can all affect the growth rate of Endlers.

Young male Endler
Young male Orchid Endler’s have a small black dot near the tail area long before showing other coloration

The higher the water temperature the faster the Endlers will grow however higher temperatures also shorten the lifespan of Endlers.

In general they should be a nice size in about 6-8 weeks.  You can usually determine the sex of the male Endler at the age of 4-6 weeks old as the gonopodium develops.  With some experience you may be able to determine the sex of an Endler at an earlier age.

Most female Endlers have little to no coloration.  The development of the coloration varies depending on the strain however the black markings usually show up first and can be the first indications that an Endler is male other than the gonopodium.

How Soon Can The Females Become Pregnant?

Endler fry
This Lime Green Endler was born just last night

Trying to separate female virgin Endlers can be a somewhat of a challenge as the females can become pregnant between 4-6 weeks old.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top