Cuban limia

Care at a glance

Overview

Cuban limias are robust, active livebearers that do best in a group with more females than males so no one female is chased too hard. They are peaceful and spend their time in the middle of the tank, mixing well with other calm fish that enjoy the same hard water. They graze algae steadily and take almost any prepared food, so feed a good flake or pellet with vegetable content plus occasional frozen treats. Hard, alkaline water keeps their colour and health at their best. Because they grow larger than most small livebearers, give a group a tank of 70 liters or larger.

In the wild

Limia vittata is native to Cuba, where it lives in hard, mineral-rich fresh waters including streams, ponds and coastal lowlands. These waters are warm and alkaline, so aim for a temperature between 23 and 28 C and a pH from about 7 to 8, with good hardness. A tank with open swimming room, some plants and steady filtration suits it. Bright light that encourages algae growth gives the fish something natural to graze.

Good to know

The Cuban limia is a livebearer in the family Poeciliidae and one of the larger Limia species. Females grow to about 10 cm and males to around 8 cm, with mature males often washed in gold. Males fertilize females internally with a gonopodium, the modified anal fin typical of the family, and females give birth to live young. Breeding is straightforward in hard water, though the moderate rating reflects that adults will hunt their own fry unless plenty of cover is provided.

Did you know

Once found only in Cuba, the Cuban limia is now kept by livebearer specialists around the world, and dominant males can take on a bright golden sheen across the body.

Related species

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  Blackbelly limia

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• 

  Perugia's limia

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• 

  Humpbacked limia

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• 

  Gill's molly

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• 

  Shortfin molly

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• 

  Porthole livebearer

  Poeciliopsis gracilis

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