Limia

COMMON NAMES: Blue Limia or Black-bellied Limia

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lima rnelanogaster.

SYNONYM: Poecilia melanogaster

DESIGNATION: Tropical

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Jamaica andHaiti

SIZE: Males up to around 4 cm (c 1.75 in);females around 6.5 cm (3 in).

WATER PREFERENCES: Chemical composition ofthe water is not critical, although extremes of pH should be avoided. A temperature range of 22-26°C (72-79°F) is quite adequate.

DIET: Blue Limias will eat a wide range ofdried and livefood. The diet must contain come vegetable matter. (Encrusting algae arequite suitable).

BREEDING: Blue Limia males are very activeand constantly chase females of their own,and sometimes other, species. Broods ofaround 20 fry will be produced every 6-8weeks in typical Poeciliid fashion.

DESCRIPTION: Limias, in general,were transferred to the genus Poecilia byRosen and Bailey in their major reclassification of livebearers in 1963. Morerecently research by Rivas in 1978 indicatedthat the Limias shared enough characteristicsto warrant their reinstatement as a genus.Officially, therefore, they are 'as they were'and all the Limias are once more regarded asmembers of the genus Limia.

Many species of Limia (L. melanogasterincluded) will hybridise easily. Somecombinations, including L. melanogasterxL.vittata, and L. melanoga.sterxL. nigrofasciata,produce fertile hybrids.

My own work with these fish, in addition toconfirming the above, also yielded hybridsbetween a first-generation L.melartogasterxL. vittata hybrid male and afemale Green Sailfin Molly (Poecilia velifera).It is, therefore, essential to keep Limias andrelated species away from each other forbreeding purposes. The same rule applies toother livebearers, particularly the variousXiphophorus and Poecilia species.

Limia Information

• The fish is highly popular among fish pet owners. It has a fish which is fun to watch in an aquarium. The fish should be preferably kept in brakish water but it can also adapt well in hard fresh water of moderate nature of around 10 degrees dH and the ph olevel to be around 7.5.
• The fish would survive better in a well planted aquarium.
• The fish needs plenty of sunlight. Sunlight is responsible for the growth of algae. The algae is the natural food source of the fish. Though too much of sunlight may raise the temperature of the water but the fish can survive well up till the temperature of 30 degree. If proper sunlight is given to the fish then you would soon find that the tank is filled up with baby limia and cherry shrimps.
• Unlike many fish the parents of the brood are not found to have a predatory instinct. Each brood consists of about twenty small fish. The reason behind the survival of he brood with minimal destruction of the fry is wither the fish prefers well planted aquarium under which the babies can hide or the parent fish are too happy with other source of food.
• The baby fish can be reared very easily. As a diet they require only a mixture of green algae and certain flake food item.