Commonly known as the Odessa Barb, the Puntius padamya is a show-stopping addition to any community tank. Famous for its intense, ruby-red horizontal stripe that glows against a backdrop of metallic silver and black-edged scales, this fish is a favorite for those seeking high-contrast color. As a hardy freshwater fish, it is an excellent choice for both beginners and veteran aquascapers looking to add movement and vibrancy to their display.

Quick Stats

• Scientific Name: Pethia padamyas (formerly Puntius padamya)

• Care Level: Easy

• Temperament: Semi-aggressive (active and nippy if not in a school)

• Lifespan: 3 to 5 years

• Max Size: 2.5 to 3 inches

Place of Origin

The Odessa Barb was first discovered in the wild in Myanmar (Burma), specifically in the Chindwin River basin. While it appeared in the hobby through European markets (notably Odessa, Ukraine—hence the name), it is native to slow-moving, high-altitude rivers and ponds with clear, cool water.

Ideal Environment & Tank Size

Odessa Barbs are extremely active swimmers that require plenty of horizontal space. A minimum tank size of 20 to 30 gallons is recommended for a proper school.

• Substrate: They look most spectacular over a dark substrate, which helps their red coloration pop.

• Environment: Use a mix of open swimming space in the center and dense planting along the perimeter. Hardy plants like Vallisneria, Amazon Swords, and Cryptocoryne provide the "cover" they need to feel secure.

• Water Parameters:

  • Temperature: 70°F to 77°F (They prefer slightly cooler water than many tropical fish).

  • pH: 6.5 – 8.0

  • Hardness: 5–15 dGH

Feeding & Diet

The Odessa Barb is an omnivore with a hearty appetite. They are not picky eaters and will accept most aquarium staples.

• Primary Diet: High-quality flake food or sinking micro-pellets.

• Color Enhancement: To maintain that signature deep red stripe, offer a variety of frozen or live foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia. They also benefit from some vegetable matter, like spirulina flakes.

Compatible Tank Mates

These are social fish that must be kept in a group of at least 6 to 8. Keeping them in a school reduces "fin-nipping" behavior by focusing their energy on each other.

• Best Mates: Other robust schooling fish like Danios, larger Tetras, and other peaceful Barbs (like Cherry Barbs). They also do well with bottom-dwellers like Corydoras and Loaches.

• Avoid: Slow-moving fish with long, flowing fins (like Angelfish or Fancy Guppies), as the Odessa Barb may be tempted to nip.

Breeding the Odessa Barb

Odessa Barbs are egg-scatterers and are relatively easy to breed in a home setup.

1. Conditioning: Feed the pair high-quality live foods for two weeks.

2. Setup: Use a separate breeding tank with a mesh grate or a thick layer of marbles/Java Moss on the bottom to protect the eggs from the parents.

3. Spawning: They typically spawn in the early morning. Once eggs are scattered, remove the adults immediately.

4. Rearing: Eggs hatch in about 24 hours. The fry will need infusoria or liquid fry food initially before moving up to baby brine shrimp.

PLEASE READ BEFORE ORDERING

• The photos shown on fish product pages are representations of adult fish and are NOT the actual fish that you will be receiving. 
• Please visit our “Ordering/Shipping fish” page prior to checking out to familiarize yourself with our process.

• ⁃ We ship fish exclusively using overnight shipping with either FedEx or UPS. We will not ship fish with lesser expensive shipping services like “Ground” or “Priority Mail”. This is to ensure the safety of the fish.