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Odessa Barb

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Pethia padamya

Complete Odessa Barb care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 20 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.

Odessa Barb

Quick Answer

Odessa Barb (Pethia padamya) is a vibrant barb from Myanmar. It requires a minimum 20 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 6.5 - 7.5 and temperature range of 20-24°C. This omnivore occupies the middle zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Odessa Barb (Pethia padamya) is a vibrant barb from Myanmar. Males display a deep red-orange body with a bold black stripe and iridescent green scales.

Setup

A 20-gallon or larger tank with open swimming space and robust plants. Moderate water flow. They tolerate cooler temperatures well.

Feeding

Omnivorous; accepts flakes, pellets, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and vegetable matter.

Compatibility

Peaceful but active. Keep in schools of 6+. Good with other barbs, danios, rainbowfish, and tetras. Avoid long-finned or very shy fish.

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Tank Position
Middle
Water Temp
20-24°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
6.5 - 7.5

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Omnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

African Red Eyed Tetra Care Guide: Schooling & Tank Size semanticSimilarity Apistogramma Care Guide: Temperament & Diet semanticSimilarity Banded Corydoras Care Guide: Substrate & Diet semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Odessa Barbs should be kept together?
Maintain a minimum school of 8 to 12 individuals in a tank of at least 30 gallons (113 liters) with a footprint of 36x12 inches (90x30 cm). Odessa barbs (Pethia padamya) develop a bright crimson-red stripe from head to tail when kept in a school with competing males and multiple females. Groups under 6 cause faded colors and fin-nipping. Maintain a 1 male to 2-3 female ratio. Provide open swimming lanes and dense plant borders (Hygrophila, Vallisneria). Tank length must exceed 30 inches (75 cm) for their active swimming.
What are the exact water parameters for Odessa Barbs?
Target pH 6.5 - 7.5, General Hardness 5 - 12 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 4 - 10 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 120 - 300 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 240 - 600 μS/cm, and temperature 72°F - 79°F (22°C - 26°C). They are active, hardy fish that prefer well-oxygenated water with moderate currents (8x turnover). Maintain nitrates below 20 ppm with weekly 25% water changes. Use a canister or HOB filter with moderate flow. Provide smooth gravel or sand. Hardness below 4 dGH causes clamped fins.
What is the dietary and medication protocol for Odessa Barbs?
They are omnivores requiring 40% protein, 10% fat, 50% plant matter. Feed high-quality tropical flakes, sinking granules, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia twice daily. Offer spirulina flakes and blanched spinach weekly. Medication alert: Tolerate copper (0.2 mg/L) and formalin. Praziquantel is safe. Salt baths up to 5 ppt treat external parasites. Quarantine with methylene blue for 7 days. They are hardy but can carry camallanus worms; treat with levamisole (2 mg/L).
How to breed Odessa Barbs in captivity?
Select 10-12 mature fish (1 male:2 female) and condition with live blackworms and brine shrimp for 2 weeks. Set up a 20-gallon (75 liter) breeding tank with 5 inches (12 cm) of water (pH 6.8, dGH 6, 75°F/24°C), a spawning mop, and fine-leaf plants. Spawning occurs at dawn; female releases 200-300 adhesive eggs. Remove parents after 4 hours. Eggs hatch in 24-36 hours at 72°F (22°C). Fry feed on infusoria for 3 days, then microworms, then baby brine shrimp after day 7. Grow-out requires frequent water changes.

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