Humpbacked limia
Limia nigrofasciata
Also known as Blackbarred limia, Black Striped Limia, Humpback limia
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–82°F
- 22–28°C
- pH
- 7.0–8.5
- Adult size
- 2.4 in
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Easy
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Poeciliidae
- Origin
- Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic)
Overview
Keep a colony of six to eight in a tank of 75 liters or larger, with more females than males to spread out the constant courtship from the males. They are mostly peaceful and sit in the middle of the water column, but they will eat dwarf shrimp and may nip other livebearers, so they are not shrimp-safe. Water should run warm, from 22 to 28 C, hard, and alkaline at a pH of 7 to 8.5. Feed them a varied diet with some vegetable matter worked in, since they graze on plant material in the wild. Pick tankmates that can handle the steady activity and won't get their fins picked at.
In the wild
The humpbacked limia comes from Hispaniola, in the lakes and streams of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where the water runs hard and alkaline. Set up a tank that matches those conditions, with neutral to hard alkaline water and a pH from 7 to 8.5, since this fish does poorly in soft acidic conditions. Keep the temperature between 22 and 28 C and give them open swimming room in the middle of the tank with some plants around the edges. A bit of mineral hardness in the water keeps them in good shape.
Good to know
This is a livebearer in the family Poeciliidae, reaching about 6 cm as an adult, with males a touch smaller and carrying a tall sail-like back. Like other poeciliids it bears live young rather than laying eggs, and broods of large fry arrive every few weeks. It is an easy fish to breed, and a healthy adult can live a few years. Most fish in the trade are tank bred.
Did you know
The "hump" is the males showing off. As a male matures, his back arches up into a tall sail-like ridge that he raises during courtship to look bigger to females and rival males. Females stay slim and plain by comparison, so a tank of these sorts itself into showy males and steady females at a glance.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Humpbacked limia is a mostly 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.
Marble wood shrimp
Atya scabra
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Dwarf botia
Ambastaia sidthimunki
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–86°F (20–30°C)
Six-barred panchax
Epiplatys sexfasciatus
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Honey gourami
Trichogaster chuna
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Pit bull otocinclus
Parotocinclus jumbo
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Humpbacked limia need?
A Humpbacked limia needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Humpbacked limia need?
A Humpbacked limia is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.5.
How big does a Humpbacked limia get?
An adult Humpbacked limia reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).
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