Black-bellied Limia Care Guide
Limia melanogaster is a hardy Caribbean livebearer from Jamaica that thrives in hard, alkaline water and gives birth to live young.
Overview
Limia melanogaster is a small livebearing fish of the family Poeciliidae, described by Gunther in 1866. Males have a black caudal peduncle and dorsal fin, with a yellow caudal fin rimmed in black; females show a dark gravid spot near the gonopore. The species is hardy and is used in the aquarium trade.
Taxonomy
- Family: Poeciliidae
- Genus: Limia
- Scientific name: Limia melanogaster (Gunther, 1866)
Habitat
FishBase records the species from Jamaica and Haiti, while Wikipedia describes it as endemic to Jamaica, in the Black River drainage and Blue Hole River headwaters. It is found in shallow, fast-flowing streams collected near the surface, often in habitats with little vegetation but rich in aufwuchs.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L (about 21 gal)
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 7.5-8.5
- GH: 12-25 °dGH
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- Water flow: moderate
Diet
Limia melanogaster is an omnivore. In the wild it feeds on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter, and algae forms a significant part of the diet in brackish habitats. In aquaria it accepts prepared foods with regular vegetable matter, fed twice daily.
Compatibility
This peaceful, mid-water livebearer suits hard-water community aquariums. Good companions include other Limia and mollies that share its preference for hard, alkaline water; soft-water species are not suitable due to the differing water chemistry.
Breeding
Limia melanogaster is an ovoviviparous livebearer. According to Wikipedia, females mature at four to five months, gestation lasts about four weeks, and broods of 20 to 80 fry are produced, each measuring 6 to 9 mm at birth.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Near Threatened, assessed in 2020 (FishBase).