All fish / Poeciliidae

Garnier's limia

Limia garnieri

Also known as garnier's limia, garnieri limia, limia garnieri miragoane

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This is a small, silvery livebearer that occurs naturally only in Lake Miragoâne in Haiti. Males have darker markings and a dusky dorsal fin. It is kept mostly by livebearer enthusiasts who want to help maintain rare Caribbean species in the hobby.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.2 to 8.2

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more, with more females than males

Diet

Omnivore: algae, spirulina flakes, vegetable-based foods, small live and frozen foods such as daphnia and brine shrimp

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 3 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Miragoâne, south-western Haiti (Hispaniola)

Breeding

Females give birth to small, fully formed fry every four weeks or so after internal fertilisation. Breeding is straightforward in hard, alkaline water. Plenty of fine-leaved plants or floating cover will improve fry survival.

Good to know

It is endemic to a single threatened lake, so keepers should keep stocks pure and should not cross it with other Lake Miragoâne limias, such as Limia islai, that look similar. It is rarely found in the trade.