Common Name- Tiger Limia
    Water conditions- Not critical, water quality consistency is important, plants, water changes, vegetable in diet
    Behavior-Peaceful community fish
    Breeding- 5-20 young approx. every 30 days
    Size- 2 inches

   
    This fish was introduced to the hobby by a well known member of our hobby, and its identification is still
    in the process of being completed. Dominic Isla brought this fish back from Lake Miragoane in Haiti in the
    early 2000’s, initially misidentified as L. garnieri. Sold to hobbyists as L. garnieri, an article was submitted
    by a hobbyist to Livebearers, the journal of the American Livebearer Association, on this fish. Another researcher
    hobbyist saw the article and questioned the identification. Samples were sent and it was determined to be a new
    species. In the past, this species was thought to be juvenile forms of the Limia nigrofasciata. Though similar
    in appearance when younger, this species was found to be closely related to L. nigrofasciata, but attains a very
    different appearance as it ages.

    I kept some of the first fish brought back by Dominic when he first obtained them, and the line today is very hardy
    and healthy. These can be kept easily in a 10 gallon tank but will thrive in a colony in a 20 or 30 gallon tank very
    well. They are kept in 10 and 20 gallon tanks here with aeration, bare bottom, floating plants and occasional brine
    shrimp. They do very well when their diet is supplemented with an algae/vegetable supplement, such as the algae
    wafers fed to catfish. They do not require plants to hide in, and various light levels are fine.

    They have been sensitive here in the past to levels of chlorine or medications added to the tank that would not
    bother other fish. Today I am very cautious with this species to add a dechlorinater when changing more than 15-20%
    of the water, and do not medicate with anything unless it is absolutely necessary.

    Females become large and distended when gravid and should be moved to their own tank to drop, as the young will
    often be eaten. The young are fairly small and benefit from being raised alone, fed baby brine shrimp and finely
    crushed flake food at first. Eventually with a planted tank of 30 gallons or more they will live and increase in
    population as a colony. One interesting characteristic this fish shares with L. nigrofasciata is that young males
    will sex out at very different rates, resulting resulting in groups of 3-5 month old fish that appear to be all
    females. Some males will sex out early, but what may appear to be a near adult female fish will slowly sex out
    to be a male as it ages. For this reason it is best to order these in a 2-4 month old fry group of 6-8 fish,
    which will ship better, cost less, and nearly guarantee at least 1-2 pair.

    See other Care Guides Here