Odessa barb
Pethia padamya
Also known as scarlet barb
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 61–77°F
- 16–25°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.0
- Adult size
- 1.8 in
- 4.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Egg scatterer · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Origin
- Myanmar
Overview
The Odessa barb is a small, active barb that schools through the middle of a peaceful community tank. Beginners can keep it without trouble.
Did you know
The Odessa barb is native to Myanmar, yet it first reached the hobby through the city of Odessa, in what is now Ukraine. The name stuck, and for years nobody was sure which wild population the aquarium strain came from.
Caring for the Odessa barb
Give Odessa barbs a planted tank of at least 20 gal (75 L), with open swimming space. They are active swimmers that work the middle of the tank.
They do not need it warm, which makes them a good choice for an unheated or lightly heated tank. Aim for cool to moderate temperatures of 61 to 77°F (16 to 25°C), with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Feed quality flake and small pellets, plus regular frozen or live foods such as bloodworm and daphnia to keep the males' red strong.
Keep them in a school of six or more, since smaller groups tend to get nippy. In a proper group they are generally peaceful and safe with other community fish.
Males show a broad red band along the body, while females stay plainer. Odessa barbs are egg scatterers with no parental care, and breeding them takes moderate effort.
Good to know
Pethia padamya, the Odessa barb, is a small barb in the family Cyprinidae. It was not formally described until 2008, which is late for a fish that had been in the hobby for decades.
In the wild
The Odessa barb comes from Myanmar, where it lives in streams, pools and ponds with cooler, moving water. Conditions there run soft to slightly hard, and acidic to neutral.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Odessa barb is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Devdevi loach
Schistura devdevi
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)
Rex halfbeak
Nomorhamphus rex
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an Odessa barb need?
An Odessa barb needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does an Odessa barb need?
An Odessa barb is comfortable at 61–77°F (16–25°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.0.
What does an Odessa barb eat?
An Odessa barb eats quality flake and small pellets. Regular frozen or live foods, such as bloodworm and daphnia, keep the males' red strong.
How big does an Odessa barb get?
An adult Odessa barb reaches about 1.8 in (4.5 cm).
Does an Odessa barb need a group?
Yes. An Odessa barb is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
How can you tell a male Odessa barb from a female?
Males carry a broad red band along the body. Females are plainer.
How does an Odessa barb breed?
Odessa barbs scatter their eggs and give them no parental care. Breeding them is a moderate challenge.
Related species
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Pethia manipurensis
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Pethia narayani
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1.8 in (4.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)Tiantian barb
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Pethia bandula
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2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Cuming's barb
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