Odessa Barb
Pethia padamya
Odessa Barb (Pethia padamya) is a freshwater species with an adult-size reference of about 6 cm. It needs at least 80 litres and 6 individuals, with its social and territorial profile taken into account.
Température de l’eau
16 - 25 °C
Valeur du pH
6 - 7.5
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Milieu
Taille adulte
6 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 80 L
Groupe minimal
>= 6
GH
5 - 18 dGH
KH
2 - 9 dKH
TDS
95 - 360 ppm
Conductivité
148 - 563 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: A freshwater species; the enclosure should provide stability, oxygenation, space and shelter consistent with its behaviour without turning one habitat description into a mandatory recipe.
Taxonomy and Morphology: The accepted scientific name is Pethia padamya; the verified classification records genus Pethia, family Cyprinidae, subfamily Smiliogastrinae, order Cypriniformes. Historical names remain searchable as synonyms rather than separate species.
Social Behavior: Odessa Barb is social and should be kept in a group. The minimum reference is 6 individuals; sex, maturity and available space can require a more conservative composition. Observe access to food, resting behaviour, chasing and use of shelter. Isolation, persistent competition or aggression means the number, composition or environment needs to be corrected.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Colour and shape can vary with age, sex, physiological state and environmental conditions. Identification and sexing require recognized species-level characters; one appearance or photograph is not enough.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Odessa Barb needs an aquarium of at least 80 litres, sized for adult body size and a minimum group of 6 individuals. Filtration, shelter and swimming room must match the species and the actual number kept. Volume alone does not make an enclosure suitable: tank shape and length, usable area, oxygenation and the ability to separate territories must reflect adult behaviour.
Diet and Feeding: The recorded diet is omnivorous. Offer appropriately sized foods varied within that category, and adjust quantity and frequency from actual intake, body condition and leftovers. One food or a fixed schedule is not suitable for every age and situation.
Water Quality: Maintain stable, well-oxygenated water appropriate to a freshwater species; the card's reference values are 16–25 °C, pH 6–7.5. Verify conditions with reliable tests and size maintenance and filtration to the actual load. Ranges are not automatic thresholds for treatment or rapid chemical correction.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: The cohabitation profile is suitable for a compatible community, with a generally active temperament. Keep at least 6 individuals; tankmates, stocking density and decor must allow escape, rest and feeding without excessive competition. Watch interactions especially during feeding, maturity and breeding. Persistent chasing, injury or exclusion from food requires a change in stocking or layout, or separation of the animals.
Aquarium Breeding: The recorded reproductive profile is “oviparity”. Breeding should be attempted only with healthy adults, separation capacity and a plan for eggs or young. Do not treat unverified triggers, sex ratios or hatch times as universal for this species.
Risks and Diseases: Prevent problems through quarantine of new arrivals, stable water, appropriate feeding and daily observation. Similar signs can have different causes, so check parameters, history and diagnosis before medication. Follow the product label and qualified aquatic-veterinary advice; there is no universal reduced dose for a species or family.
Origine et répartition géographiques
A freshwater species; the enclosure should provide stability, oxygenation, space and shelter consistent with its behaviour without turning one habitat description into a mandatory recipe.
Origine
Asie du Sud et du Sud-Est
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Active
- Odessa Barb has a generally active temperament. Insufficient space, an unsuitable social ratio or incompatible tankmates can substantially change observed behaviour.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- Odessa Barbs are enthusiastic omnivores that will readily accept nearly anything offered to them in the aquarium. Their core diet should revolve around a high-quality, balanced flake or pellet food designed for tropical omnivores. To bring out the absolute best coloration, especially the ruby-red band in males, their diet must be supplemented with live or frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia multiple times a week. They also require plant matter, which can be provided through spirulina flakes or blanched vegetables like cucumber and spinach. This varied diet ensures they receive all necessary vitamins and minerals.
- Espérance de vie
- 3-5 years
- Taille adulte
- 6 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Group
- Odessa Barb is social and should be kept in a group. The reference minimum is 6 individuals and must not be read as permission to overcrowd the aquarium.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- Because of their high energy expenditure, Odessa Barbs should be fed two to three times a day in very small portions. Each feeding should only consist of what the school can completely devour within a span of two minutes. This frequent, small-portion feeding strategy mimics their natural continuous foraging behavior and prevents dangerous water quality spikes from uneaten food. They are prone to overeating if given the chance, so careful portion control is required to prevent bloating. Fasting the tank for one day a week is a healthy practice that allows their digestive systems to rest.
- Charge biologique
- Low to Medium
- Odessa Barbs contribute a moderate to slightly high bioload to the aquarium ecosystem due to their constant activity and hearty appetites. Like many barbs, they are messy eaters that require excellent filtration to process their waste efficiently. Ensuring the nitrogen cycle is stable and utilizing a powerful filter is key to their long-term health. Regular water changes of roughly 25 to 30 percent weekly are crucial to dilute accumulated nitrates and dissolved organics. Good water quality is directly linked to the intensity of the striking red stripe found on the males.
- Courant
- Moderate
- Native to rivers and streams in Myanmar, the Odessa Barb thrives in aquariums with moderate to moderately strong water flow. A steady current encourages their natural schooling behavior and provides the physical exercise they require to stay healthy. Using a spray bar or a small powerhead can create an ideal river-like environment. However, the tank must also include areas of calmer water, usually behind hardscape or dense vegetation, where the fish can rest out of the main current. Good water movement also ensures high levels of dissolved oxygen, which is essential for this active species.
- Risque de saut
- No
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Odessa Barbs are prolific, continuous egg-scatterers that provide zero parental care to their offspring. Breeding is triggered by slightly cooler water changes and feeding highly nutritious live foods. A pair will swim through fine-leaved plants, scattering non-adhesive eggs that fall to the substrate or get caught in the foliage. Because the adults are notorious for eating their own eggs and fry, breeding should take place in a separate tank fitted with a mesh floor or spawning mops. The parents must be removed immediately after spawning, and the fry must be fed microscopic foods once free-swimming.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Community
- The cohabitation profile is suitable for a compatible community, with a generally active temperament. Keep at least 6 individuals; tankmates, stocking density and decor must allow escape, rest and feeding without excessive competition. Watch interactions especially during feeding, maturity and breeding. Persistent chasing, injury or exclusion from food requires a change in stocking or layout, or separation of the animals.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle
- The Odessa Barb is primarily a mid-level swimmer, though their high energy will see them utilizing almost the entire water column throughout the day. They require a long, rectangular aquarium to accommodate their need for significant horizontal swimming space. While they will confidently swim out in the open, they also heavily rely on dense planting around the perimeter to feel safe. During feeding, they will aggressively rush to the surface, and they can sometimes be seen picking at algae on the substrate. A well-structured tank with both open lanes and cover is essential.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 2,7 ± 0,2 se
- Résilience
- Élevée (moins de 15 mois)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.01622, b = 2.94
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
Galerie d'images
Images sous licence liées à l'espèce ou, lorsqu'elles sont indiquées, au taxon représentatif le plus proche.
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