Home / Fishes / Killifish and livebearers / Blackbelly limia
No federal permit to keepBlackbelly limia
Limia melanogaster
Fishes › Killifish and livebearers (Cyprinodontiformes) › Poeciliidae (Livebearers)
Limia melanogaster, the black-bellied or blue limia, is a poeciliid fish from Jamaica.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 1.6 in / 4 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 72–82°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 7.5–8.5.
- Hardness: 20–30 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: Eats a varied diet: mix quality prepared foods with frozen and live foods. FishBase classes it as a omnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 24 × 12 in (roughly 14 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
- Water: hard, alkaline water, 72–82 °F, pH 7.5–8.5, 20–30 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Prefers a tank with densely planted areas but also plenty of open swimming space hence the relatively large recommended tank size.”
- Tankmates: “Peaceful and can be combined with other small hard water tolerant fish.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Livebearers (guppies, mollies, platies and swordtails)
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Warm streams, ponds and brackish waters. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Planted tanks with gentle flow; mollies appreciate harder, slightly brackish water.
Diet
- Flake foods with plant matter, plus live or frozen foods.
Social life
- Peaceful community fish; keep more females than males.
Health watch
- They breed constantly; plan for fry or keep single-sex groups.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It inhabits fast-flowing streams. It is a rare livebearer in modern fishkeeping.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Limia melanogaster” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams. Uses both the bottom and open water. Found in streams. Collected near the surface. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 72–82 °F (22–28 °C), pH 7.5–8.5, hardness 20–30 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: internal live bearers. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 72–82 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 86°F (up to 90°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 65°F (down to 62°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 73–80°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 76–81% on average (driest month about 75%) |
| Rainfall | about 1796 mm a year |
Measured at 8 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Limia melanogaster, the black-bellied or blue limia, is a poeciliid fish from Jamaica. It inhabits fast-flowing streams. It is a rare livebearer in modern fishkeeping. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Wild diet | L. melanogaster is omnivorous. Its diet consists of worms, crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. Algae make up a significant portion of its diet, especially in brackish water. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Reproduction | In captivity, females reach maturity aged between 4 and 5 months. The males spend over 26 minutes per hour courting females. Like many other poeciliids, L. melanogaster is ovoviparous. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Appearance and size | L. melanogaster is the second slimmest species in its genus after L. zonata. The species is exceptionally variable. The base color of the fish is greenish-gray. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Collected near the surface. Feeds on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter. — FishBase |
| History and naming | DNA research shows that L. melanogaster is basal to others in the genus Limia: it was the first to split from other limias, which inhabit other islands in the West Indies, around 22.8 million years ago at the Oligocene–Miocene boundary. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 24 × 12 in (about 14 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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