Cuban Limia Breeding Guide (Limia vittata)

Breeding the Cuban Limia (Limia vittata), a robust livebearer from Cuba: large females can drop up to 50 fry at a time and around 100 young over a 4-6 week period.

Overview

The Cuban Limia (Limia vittata) is a livebearing poeciliid native to Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud; the female carries developing embryos internally and gives birth to fully formed young. The species inhabits streams, lakes, estuaries, coastal lagoons and mangrove swamps and tolerates fresh, brackish and saline water.

Sexing

Males are much smaller, reaching about 5 cm, with a dorsal and anal fin that are usually yellow-orange and marked with blue-black spots. Females grow to over twice that size, about 10 cm, with colourless fins bearing a few scattered black freckles and a yellow patch near the vent.

Conditioning

This is a productive livebearer; well-conditioned females breed repeatedly, producing successive broods through the season.

Breeding Setup

Hard, neutral-to-alkaline water suits the species, reflecting its tolerance of fresh through saline conditions. Provide planting so the live fry have cover.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Fertilization is internal, as in other poeciliids, and the female retains the young until they are born free-swimming.

Birth & Fry Care

A larger female may give birth to up to 50 fry at a time and produce around 100 young over a 4-6 week period. The free-swimming fry can be reared among plants and accept small foods appropriate to their size.

Common Challenges

As with other livebearers, the main tasks are giving fry enough cover from adults and managing the steady output of broods.