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Cuban limia

Limia vittata

Also known as Cuban molly, Banded limia

FreshwaterFish

Cuban limia (Limia vittata)
Cardet co6cs · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
7.0–8.0
Adult size
3.9 in
10 cm
Minimum tank
18 gal
70 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Livebearer · Medium
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Poeciliidae
Origin
Cuba

Overview

The Cuban limia is a robust, active livebearer for a peaceful community tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish to keep.

Did you know

Once found only in Cuba, the Cuban limia is now kept by livebearer specialists around the world.

Caring for the Cuban limia

Keep Cuban limias in a group with more females than males, so no one female is chased too hard. They grow larger than most small livebearers, so give a group 18 gal (70 L) or more. Leave open swimming room, add some plants and run steady filtration. They spend their time in the middle of the tank.

Hard, alkaline water keeps their color and health at their best. Aim for 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.0, with good hardness. They graze algae steadily, and bright light grows algae for them to pick at. They take almost any prepared food, so feed a good flake or pellet with vegetable content, plus occasional frozen treats.

Cuban limias are peaceful and mix well with other calm fish that like the same hard water. Females grow to about 10 cm and males to around 8 cm. Mature males are often washed in gold, and a dominant male can take on a bright golden sheen across the body.

Males fertilize females internally with a gonopodium, the modified anal fin typical of the family. Females give birth to live young. Breeding is straightforward in hard water, but it rates moderate because adults hunt their own fry unless there is plenty of cover.

Good to know

The Cuban limia, Limia vittata, is a livebearer in the family Poeciliidae and one of the larger Limia species. It also goes by the names Cuban molly and banded limia.

In the wild

Limia vittata is native to Cuba, where it lives in hard, mineral-rich fresh waters. These include streams, ponds and coastal lowlands, and the water there is warm and alkaline.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Cuban limia is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Cuban limia need?

A Cuban limia needs at least 18 gal (70 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Cuban limia need?

A Cuban limia is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.

What does a Cuban limia eat?

A Cuban limia grazes algae steadily and takes almost any prepared food. Feed it a good flake or pellet with vegetable content, plus occasional frozen treats.

How big does a Cuban limia get?

An adult Cuban limia reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).

How can you tell a male Cuban limia from a female?

Males grow to around 8 cm, while females reach about 10 cm. Mature males are often washed in gold.

How does a Cuban limia breed?

Cuban limias are livebearers, and the females give birth to live young. Breeding is straightforward in hard water, but adults hunt their own fry unless there is plenty of cover.

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