Perugia's limia
Limia perugiae
Also known as Sparkling limia
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–82°F
- 22–28°C
- pH
- 7.2–8.5
- Adult size
- 2.8 in
- 7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Easy
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Poeciliidae
- Origin
- Endemic to Hispaniola in the Dominican Republic, including hard and sometimes slightly saline waters around Lake Enriquillo.
Overview
Keep six or more in 75 liters or larger at 22 to 28 C, pH 7.2 to 8.5, in hard water. Feed a mixed diet of vegetable flake, algae foods, and frozen daphnia or brine shrimp. Males can be pushy with each other, so keep several females and enough space. Peaceful toward other robust hard water fish.
In the wild
A larger, sturdy limia with sparkling blue and gold flanks and yellow to orange in the male's fins. Older males develop a raised nape that gives them a chunky profile. Keep a group in a hard water tank with plants, rockwork, and open space. They graze algae and take a wide range of foods.
Good to know
Limia perugiae is a Hispaniolan livebearer that reaches about 6 to 7 cm, with females larger than males. Some wild populations live in hard, slightly brackish water near Lake Enriquillo, so it handles higher mineral levels well. Dominant males develop a humped back and their brightest color.
Did you know
Well fed dominant males build up a distinct humped nape and glowing color, while subordinate males stay slimmer and plainer.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Perugia's 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.
Norman's lampeye
Poropanchax normani
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Marble wood shrimp
Atya scabra
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Forktail spiny loach
Lepidocephalichthys furcatus
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Cochu's blue tetra
Boehlkea fredcochui
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 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)
Common questions
What size tank does a Perugia's limia need?
A Perugia's limia needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Perugia's limia need?
A Perugia's limia is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 7.2–8.5.
How big does a Perugia's limia get?
An adult Perugia's limia reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).
Related species
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Humpbacked limia
Limia nigrofasciata
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Tiger limia
Limia islai
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Blackbelly limia
Limia melanogaster
2.4 in (6 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2 in (5 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Tiburon limia
Limia tridens
2 in (5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)18 gal (70 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Cuban limia
Limia vittata
3.9 in (10 cm) · 18 gal (70 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)24 gal (90 L)68–81°F (20–27°C)Sheepshead swordtail
Xiphophorus birchmanni
2.8 in (7 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)