Humpbacked limia
A small livebearer from one Haitian lake in which the male develops a pronounced arched back and an enlarged dorsal fin with age. It is hardy, undemanding and increasingly maintained by hobbyists precisely because its wild situation is precarious.
Quick profile
- Scientific name
- Limia nigrofasciata
- Adult size
- 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in)
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- pH
- 7.2–8.4
- Hardness
- 10–25 °dGH
- Minimum tank
- 45 L (12 US gal)
- Minimum length
- 55 cm
- Swimming zone
- All levels
- Social
- Harem — at least 5
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Overall confidence
- moderate confidence
What keeping this species involves
Hardy, peaceful and easy to feed and breed, provided the water is hard. It is among the more straightforward livebearers in the catalogue.
A single hard-water lake and its margins, with vegetation and algal growth in warm shallow water.
Identity and names
- Common name
- Humpbacked limia
- Scientific name
- Limia nigrofasciata
- Family
- Poeciliidae
- Order
- Cyprinodontiformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Also sold as
- Limia nigrofasciata, Poecilia nigrofasciata, black-barred limia, hump-backed limia
- Former or synonymous names
- Poecilia nigrofasciata
Adult size and growth
4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in)
Typical lifespan in an aquarium: 3–5 years. Almost every animal sold in a shop is a juvenile, so the tank has to suit the size in the first line rather than the size in the bag.
Shape, which is what the compatibility engine reads instead of length alone: fusiform — the ordinary torpedo with a small terminal mouth. Assigned from what is typical of Poeciliidae, not examined for this species.
Water and tank requirements
A small livebearer kept as a group. Floor area for the group with planting for fry to use.
Temperature (°C)
Scale: 0 to 36 °C.
pH (pH)
Scale: 4 to 9.5 pH.
Hardness (°dGH)
Scale: 0 to 30 °dGH.
Why these ranges: Lake Miragoâne is hard and alkaline. Like most Caribbean limias this species does noticeably better in hard water than in the soft conditions general community tanks often run.
Where these figures come from
Habitat class
Hard alkaline water — Lake Miragoane, Haiti
Water draining limestone, gypsum or volcanic mineral — Central American rivers, karst springs, hard-water lakes.
These species are usually easy in hard tap water and difficult in the soft, acidic water the hobby treats as the default. The commonest failure is the keeper softening water that did not need softening.
- Conductivity
- 300–900 µS/cm
- Flow
- moderate
- Dissolved oxygen
- moderate
- Seasonality
- moderate
These are figures for the KIND of water body, not measurements of this species. They are AquariumHQ’s summary of the general limnology and are given wide because the water is.
- TemperatureReasoned on this record
- This record states its own reason for this band. See the water section.
- pHReasoned on this record
- This record states its own reason for this band. See the water section.
- General hardnessReasoned on this record
- This record states its own reason for this band. See the water section.
| Requirement | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 23–28 °C (73–82 °F) | Stability matters more than hitting an exact figure. |
| pH | 7.2–8.4 | A stable pH outside the ideal band is usually better than an unstable one inside it. |
| General hardness | 10–25 °dGH | Check your supplier's published figure before choosing species. |
| Minimum volume | 45 L (12 US gal) | A floor, not a recommendation. |
| Minimum footprint | 55 cm long × 25 cm deep | A small livebearer kept as a group. Floor area for the group with planting for fry to use. |
| Water flow | low | Match the outflow to this rather than to the filter's rating. |
| Lid required | Recommended | Reduces evaporation and prevents accidents. |
| Structure | Dense planting, hard surfaces for algal growth and open water. Nothing specialised beyond hard water. |
Behaviour
- Males display broadside with the dorsal fin raised and the body arched, which is the whole purpose of the shape.
- Grazes algae from surfaces through the day rather than feeding in bursts.
Telling males from females
Older males develop an arched back, a deep body and a large sail-like dorsal fin, along with a gonopodium. Females stay slim and plain.
Feeding
Takes algae, plant material and small invertebrates. A vegetable component keeps it in better condition.
- Diet type
- Omnivore
- Staples
- Spirulina flake, Quality flake, Frozen daphnia, Blanched courgette
Breeding
- Strategy
- Livebearing, with modest broods delivered every few weeks
- Difficulty
- incidental
- Parental care
- bearer
Broods are small compared with guppies and the adults are comparatively restrained about eating fry, so populations build slowly in a planted tank.
Tankmates and compatibility
Assessments are derived from stored traits by the compatibility engine, with the reasoning shown. A verdict is a statement about probability, not a guarantee — individual temperament can override it.
| Towards | Risk | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Small fish | none | Anything that fits in the mouth is at risk once this species reaches adult size. |
| Adult dwarf shrimp | none | Cover reduces losses but rarely prevents them where the risk is high. |
| Shrimplets | moderate | Determines whether a shrimp colony can grow rather than merely persist. |
| Snails | none | Applies to snails you wanted as well as snails you did not. |
| Long or trailing fins | none | Fin damage is an entry point for secondary infection. |
| Plants | grazes-algae | Tough species such as Anubias and Java fern survive most grazers. |
Any pair in the catalogue can be assessed with the compatibility checker.
Welfare considerations
Points where the way this species is commonly sold or kept differs from what it actually needs.
- Lake Miragoâne has changed substantially through introductions and land-use change, and several endemic limias are at risk. The aquarium population matters here.
- The male's arched back develops slowly with age. A young male looks like an ordinary small livebearer and is often assumed to be a different fish.
Problems to watch for
Most problems in a tank containing this species are general rather than species-specific. Start with the troubleshooting index and work from the observation rather than from a guess at the cause.
What AquariumHQ does not yet hold
Species-level disease susceptibility is modelled in the graph and is not yet populated. Health pages will not be published until each condition has veterinary sourcing, because health content written without evidence is the most harmful thing this product could publish. The gap is recorded in the coverage report.
Where it comes from
- Native range
- Haiti — Lake Miragoâne and its associated waters
- Habitat
- A single hard-water lake and its margins, with vegetation and algal growth in warm shallow water.
What the checklists say
2 distribution statements retrieved from GBIF checklists. Establishment means is reproduced from the source where it states one, and left unstated where it does not — a record of presence is not a record of origin.
| Status | Places | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded as present, establishment means not stated | 2 | The source records the species as present and does not say whether it is native or introduced. AquariumHQ does not fill that in. |
No checklist AquariumHQ holds positively calls this species native anywhere, so the native range above rests on AquariumHQ’s own reading of the literature rather than on a cited checklist.
Evidence
Every stored value with the kind of support behind it and where to check it. Evidence type and confidence are separate axes: an editorial position held confidently and a measurement held tentatively are different things.
| Claim | Value | Evidence type | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| scientific name | Limia nigrofasciata | Observed / measured | high confidence | Catalogue of Life; GBIF — Global Biodiversity Information Facility |
| native range | Haiti — Lake Miragoâne and its associated waters | Observed / measured | moderate confidence | GBIF — Global Biodiversity Information Facility |
| adult size | 4–6 cm | Aquarium-literature consensus | moderate confidence | AquariumHQ husbandry synthesis |
| lifespan | 3–5 years | Aquarium-literature consensus | moderate confidence | AquariumHQ husbandry synthesis |
| temperature | 23–28 °C | Aquarium-literature consensus | moderate confidence | AquariumHQ husbandry synthesis |
| ph | 7.2–8.4 pH | Aquarium-literature consensus | moderate confidence | AquariumHQ husbandry synthesis |
| general hardness | 10–25 °dGH | Aquarium-literature consensus | moderate confidence | AquariumHQ husbandry synthesis |
| minimum tank volume | ≥ 45 L | AquariumHQ editorial position | moderate confidence | AquariumHQ husbandry synthesis |
| minimum tank length | ≥ 55 cm | AquariumHQ editorial position | moderate confidence | AquariumHQ husbandry synthesis |
| minimum group size | ≥ 5 | AquariumHQ editorial position | moderate confidence | AquariumHQ husbandry synthesis |
Last reviewed 2026-08-10. Values labelled as an aquarium-literature consensus are AquariumHQ editorial positions rather than measurements — see how evidence is handled.
Why we say this
What each figure on this page rests on, and how far that is from being independently established.
Every figure on this page has a provenance. Open any claim to see what AquariumHQ holds for it, which sources say what, and what a claim of that kind actually needs. Different claims need different evidence: an accepted scientific name is settled by one authority, while a legal restriction needs a current primary instrument. A single source is often the right answer rather than a thin one.
scientific nameAquariumHQ's own position, externally checkableBased on a verified authoritative source.
AquariumHQ's own position on a claim an external source could support.
What this kind of claim needs: accepted scientific name and classification — 1 authoritative source in an appropriate context. Checked against gbif on 2026-08-29. One authoritative backbone is what this class requires.
What would improve this: Go and read a source. This is reachable and has not been reached.
native rangeAquariumHQ's own position, externally checkableLimited evidence — treat with caution.
AquariumHQ's own position on a claim an external source could support.
What this kind of claim needs: where the species occurs — 1 authoritative source in an appropriate context. 2 distribution statements held, and not one of them states an establishment means. Presence without native-or-introduced is not a native-range claim, so this stays below requirement rather than being read as one.
What would improve this: Go and read a source. This is reachable and has not been reached.
adult sizeAquariumHQ's own position, externally checkableAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.
AquariumHQ's own position on a claim an external source could support.
What this kind of claim needs: size a well-kept specimen reaches — no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No external source is required for this class. AquariumHQ's position stands on its stated reasoning.
What would improve this: Go and read a source. This is reachable and has not been reached.
lifespanAquariumHQ's own position, externally checkableAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.
AquariumHQ's own position on a claim an external source could support.
What this kind of claim needs: what aquariumhq advises for keeping — no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No external source is required for this class. AquariumHQ's position stands on its stated reasoning.
What would improve this: Go and read a source. This is reachable and has not been reached.
temperatureAquariumHQ's own position, externally checkableAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.
AquariumHQ's own position on a claim an external source could support.
What this kind of claim needs: what aquariumhq advises for keeping — no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No external source is required for this class. AquariumHQ's position stands on its stated reasoning.
What would improve this: Go and read a source. This is reachable and has not been reached.
phAquariumHQ's own position, externally checkableAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.
AquariumHQ's own position on a claim an external source could support.
What this kind of claim needs: what aquariumhq advises for keeping — no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No external source is required for this class. AquariumHQ's position stands on its stated reasoning.
What would improve this: Go and read a source. This is reachable and has not been reached.
general hardnessAquariumHQ's own position, externally checkableAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.
AquariumHQ's own position on a claim an external source could support.
What this kind of claim needs: what aquariumhq advises for keeping — no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No external source is required for this class. AquariumHQ's position stands on its stated reasoning.
What would improve this: Go and read a source. This is reachable and has not been reached.
minimum tank volumeAquariumHQ's judgement — no authority publishes thisAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.
No external authority publishes this. The rationale carries the reasoning.
What this kind of claim needs: minimum tank size — no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No authority publishes this. AquariumHQ derives it, and the derivation is recorded with its inputs and assumptions.
What would improve this: Keep the rationale current. There is no source to find.
minimum tank lengthAquariumHQ's judgement — no authority publishes thisAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.
No external authority publishes this. The rationale carries the reasoning.
What this kind of claim needs: minimum tank size — no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No authority publishes this. AquariumHQ derives it, and the derivation is recorded with its inputs and assumptions.
What would improve this: Keep the rationale current. There is no source to find.
minimum group sizeAquariumHQ's judgement — no authority publishes thisAquariumHQ's own position, derived from evidenced inputs.
No external authority publishes this. The rationale carries the reasoning.
What this kind of claim needs: group size — no external source is required, provided AquariumHQ shows its reasoning. No external source is required for this class. AquariumHQ's position stands on its stated reasoning.
What would improve this: Keep the rationale current. There is no source to find.
Guides relevant to this species
Chosen from this record's own traits rather than listed on every page.
- Scientific and trade namesThis species has been published under more than one accepted name.
- Wild conditions and aquarium recommendationsThe water band on this page is an AquariumHQ position with a stated reason, not a measurement of a river.
Group size and social behaviour
Peaceful within the group with males displaying at each other. Pursuit of females is far less intense than in guppies or mollies.