Common Name- Tiger Limia
    Water conditions- Fairly tolerant of water hardness and mild pH variation, 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 and colorful 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 same sex 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 only dechlorinated water, and do not medicate with anything unless at a reduced dosage and
    only if it is absolutely necessary (which has not happened yet).

    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.