Perugia's Limia Breeding Guide

Breeding Limia perugiae: sexing by body size and dominant-male colour, omnivorous conditioning, internal fertilization and fry care for this adaptable Hispaniolan livebearer.

Overview

Limia perugiae, Perugia's limia, is a livebearing poeciliid endemic to the southeast of Hispaniola in the Caribbean. It is highly adaptable, inhabiting freshwater systems as well as saline and hypersaline lakes and coastal lagoons, and clear springs as well as polluted ditches and muddy creeks. It is a prolific producer of live young.

Sexing

Males range from 20 mm to 60 mm and are classed as large, intermediate or small, while females average about 40 mm. Dominant males display blue body hues contrasted by a yellow caudal fin with a black margin and a black dorsal fin, with colour intensity increasing with rank. Males carry a gonopodium. Populations from hypersaline water are smaller and less colourful.

Conditioning

Unlike most Limia, L. perugiae is omnivorous and takes a moderate amount of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates as well as plant matter, so a mixed diet conditions adults well. Given its tolerance of saline and hypersaline water, it thrives in hard alkaline conditions.

Mating & Gestation

Fertilization is internal via the gonopodium. Populations show equal sex ratios, and females choose mates exclusively by body size, preferring larger males; smaller males use sneaking behaviour to attempt mating. As a livebearer the female provides no parental care and produces a large number of offspring.

Birth & Fry Care

The species produces large numbers of live young, most of which fall prey to predators in the wild; in the aquarium dense planting or separating the gravid female greatly increases fry survival. Free-swimming fry take small foods from birth and, being omnivorous like the adults, accept both fine prepared foods and small invertebrates. Selecting from successive broods over time can intensify the blue and yellow coloration of dominant males.

Common Challenges

Because no parental care is given and adults will consume small fry, providing cover is essential. Note that fish from hypersaline populations are naturally smaller and less colourful, so source stock matters for colour breeding. The species is otherwise undemanding, reflecting its broad tolerance of water conditions from clear springs to polluted ditches and saline or hypersaline habitats.