20 Liter Nano Aquarium with Endler’s Livebearers (6 Fish) - Beginner-Friendly Setup

If you want to have a nano aquarium with lively movements during the entire day, then Endler’s Livebearers, scientific name Poecilia wingei, is one of the most accessible aquarium species that you can have in your nano aquarium. Not only are they small, but they are also active, making any 20-liter aquarium lively at all times. This aquarium has 6 Endler’s Livebearers, which is their bare minimum, housing them comfortably in a very conservative 20-liter aquarium stocking.

Why 6 Endler’s Livebearers works well in a 20L tank

Endlers are social fish that do best in groups. In proper numbers they behave naturally, spread out any chasing behavior, and feed more confidently. This preset uses 6 fish, which:

• meets a practical minimum group size for a social livebearer setup
• keeps the aquarium active without overloading a small volume
• makes the setup straightforward (one species, simple care needs)

Because endlers are livebearers, group composition matters. If you want the easiest experience in a 20L:

• males-only is usually simplest (no fry, less population growth)
• if you keep males + females, expect babies and plan for how you’ll manage them

Best aquascape style for endlers

Endlers do well in a wide range of aquascapes, but they look and behave best in a tank with plant cover and open swimming space:

• mid and background plants for shelter and stress reduction
• floating plants for softer lighting and extra cover
• open front area so you can watch their behavior and color
• fine plants or moss if you want a more natural look (and especially if fry might appear)

A planted nano tank also helps with stability by absorbing waste and smoothing out small water-quality swings.

Filtration and flow

Endlers are active swimmers and usually tolerate moderate flow, but in a 20L tank you still want stable, gentle filtration:

• consistent water movement (not a strong jet)
• good biological filtration capacity
• optional sponge intake cover (useful if you ever expect fry)

The goal is clean water without stressing the fish or making feeding difficult.

Water stability matters more than “perfect numbers”

Small aquariums change quickly, so stability is the priority:

• cycle the aquarium before adding fish (ammonia and nitrite must be 0)
• keep temperature consistent
• do regular maintenance on a predictable schedule

In a 20L tank, a simple routine often prevents 90% of common problems.

Feeding tips (keep it easy and clean)

Endlers aren’t picky, but nano tanks punish overfeeding:

• feed small portions they finish quickly
• remove uneaten food if it collects
• keep feeding consistent rather than heavy

If algae becomes an issue, the first thing to check is feeding amount and light duration.

Customize this preset in Virtual Aquarium

This page is meant as a “ready-to-use” starting point. Open it in our Virtual Aquarium tool to:

• adjust the number of endlers and instantly see required water volume
• switch to a different nano-friendly schooling fish preset
• see minimum group size guidance
• view a combined suitable temperature range for your selected fish

If you plan to keep a breeding group (males + females), consider moving up in tank size. For a clean, beginner-friendly 20L experience, 6 endlers (males-only) is one of the simplest setups you can run.