Home / Fishes / Killifish and livebearers / Humpbacked limia
No federal permit to keepHumpbacked limia
Limia nigrofasciata
Fishes › Killifish and livebearers (Cyprinodontiformes) › Poeciliidae (Livebearers)
The humpbacked limia or black-barred limia (Limia nigrofasciata) is a critically endangered species of poeciliid fish which is endemic to Haiti.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 2.0 in / 5.2 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 77–82°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 7–8.
- Hardness: 9–19 dGH.
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 18 × 12 in (roughly 11 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 72–79 °F, pH 7–8, 10–25 dGH.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Relatively unfussy but prefers a planted tank with some open spaces for swimming.”
- Diet: “Omnivorous and will accept most foods offered but the diet should contain some vegetable matter.”
- Tankmates: “Can be kept in a community tank provided the water is not too soft and acidic.”
- Breeding: “Very easy if soft, acidic water conditions are avoided.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Livebearers (guppies, mollies, platies and swordtails)
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Warm streams, ponds and brackish waters. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Planted tanks with gentle flow; mollies appreciate harder, slightly brackish water.
Diet
- Flake foods with plant matter, plus live or frozen foods.
Social life
- Peaceful community fish; keep more females than males.
Health watch
- They breed constantly; plan for fry or keep single-sex groups.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
Its common name is derived from the hump males develop as they age. It is sometimes kept in home aquaria.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Humpbacked limia” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Stays near the bottom. Occurs usually in large schools over a variety of bottom types. Young hide in vegetation. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 77–82 °F (25–28 °C), pH 7–8, hardness 9–19 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: internal live bearers. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 77–82 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 87°F (up to 92°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 61°F (down to 54°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 68–80°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 71–73% on average (driest month about 70%) |
| Rainfall | about 1438 mm a year |
Measured at 7 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | The humpbacked limia or black-barred limia (Limia nigrofasciata) is a critically endangered species of poeciliid fish which is endemic to Haiti. Its common name is derived from the hump males develop as they age. It is sometimes kept in home aquaria. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Reproduction | In contrast to its sister species, L. islai (which is often mislabelled as L. nigrofasciata), the reproductive behavior of Limia nigrofasciata features an elaborate courtship display by the males, which try to attract the females by presenting a large, ornamented dorsal fin, wagging their tail, and performing lateral displays. Females deliver 15–30 live young, which are quite large at the length of up to 13 mm. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Appearance and size | Limia nigrofasciata grows to a length of 5.2 cm in standard length. Both males and females are colorful, with translucent and glittery bodies featuring dark vertical bars (from which the specific epithet nigrofasciata is derived). The males also have an enlarged dorsal fin with purple flecks. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Occurs usually in large schools over a variety of bottom types. Young hide in vegetation. — FishBase |
| Conservation | Limia nigrofasciata is a critically endangered species. Lake Miragoâne, the only body of water it inhabits, is affected by severe deforestation of the surrounding land, water pollution, and climate change. Currently no species-specific measures are taken to protect L. nigrofasciata. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 18 × 12 in (about 11 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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