Alternative species (click on the thumbnail to see the card)
Names
Scientific name
Puntius padamya
Common name
Odessa barb
Pethia padamya
Origin
Origin: Asia
Biotope: Asian
Dimorphism
Adult females have a lighter colour and a thicker body.
Group
Cyprinidae
Volume
60 L / 13 imp gal / 16 US gal
Parameters
T°: 18 to 26°C or 64 to 79°F
pH: 6 to 7.5
Hardness: 7 to 10°dGH
Difficulty
Easy
Size
5cm (2")
Longevity
3 to 4 years
Living zone
Middle
Individuals
6
Food
How to feed the Odessa barb?
Food
How to feed the Odessa barb?
The question to be asked would be rather this one: is there anything this fish does not eat?
Odessa barb is omnivorous. Very easy to feed, it eats everything that passes in front of its small mouth: artemia, daphnia, microworm, tubifex, mud worms... Dry, live or frozen prey, it doesn't matter! Fish food coming from shops (aquarists and others) will for the most part be easily accepted. Don't forget the vegetable part by making supplements with plant or algae based foods.
As they seem elusive, be careful not to feed them too much as they can gain volume.
There's no secret to getting your fish to have beautiful colours: offer varied and regular menus.
Behavior
What kind of behavior does the Odessa barb have?
Behavior
What kind of behavior does the Odessa barb have?
Intraspecific relationships between males will be complicated at times. They easily get into conflict if they feel too close. To avoid this, provide a tank with a large volume, ideally 40 to 50 L / 11 Imp Gal / 13 US Gal per male.
Like all Puntius, this fish has a strong gregarious instinct. It is therefore essential to maintain this species in small groups of at least 6 to 8 specimens (and more if your volume allows it!).
The males are ardent Romeo, always soliciting the females for reproduction and never stop chasing them. In order to avoid exhaustion and weakening of the females, compose your group in harem, i.e. one male for every several females.
Cohabitation
Who can live with the Odessa barb?
Cohabitation
Who can live with the Odessa barb?
Of a peaceful and peaceful nature, the Barbus odessa will be perfectly adapted for community aquariums. Indeed, the cohabitation with the other species will be done without any problem. For total compatibility, prefer to associate them with species with the same biotope, with the same water requirements and of similar size. You will find for example your happiness in the same family as him: the cyprinids (be careful however with the available volume)!
Breeding
How to breed the Odessa barb?
Breeding
How to breed the Odessa barb?
Let's start with the basics: sexual dimorphism. The males are particularly colorful all along. During the spawning season, their colours become even more vivid.
In most cases, by letting your tank develop slowly you will see small fry appear naturally. However, if you wish to maximize the number of fry, follow the following protocol.
Set up a small rearing aquarium with the same water as your main tank and the same kind of decor. The lighting will be fairly dim. Install a fine-mesh grid at the bottom of the tank. This will serve to protect the eggs from their parent's appetite.
Isolate a couple in this aquarium and stimulate spawning by dimming the light. After spawning, remove the parents and return them to the main tank.
The eggs will hatch in 24 to 48 hours depending on the temperature. Fry free-swimming takes place in the following days.
Feeding the fry: infusing them, then when they are big enough, switch to artemia, quality fry feed...
Its aquarium
Which aquarium for the Odessa barb?
Its aquarium
Which aquarium for the Odessa barb?
The Barbus odessa likes fresh water, with a slight acidity and a temperature around 24°C (75°F). The filtration must have a flow rate of at least three times the volume of your aquarium per hour.
Be careful, despite its small size, it likes to exercise. Plan a rather long aquarium so that it has space to swim.
In terms of decoration, it seems more comfortable in well planted tanks. To keep swimming space free, plant mainly in the bottom and sides of the aquarium (U-shaped planting). Floating plants are also welcome to soften the light: this calms and reassures the fish.
Good To know
Find all additional information!
Good To know
Find all additional information!
This fish was discovered very recently. Its name comes from a town in the Ukraine, because it first appeared for sale in an aquarium shop in the city "Odessa".
Yours photos!
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