Odessa Barb

Pethia padamya

Also known as: Odessa, Scarlet barb

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 18–26°C
• pH: 6–7.5
• Hardness (GH): 36–268 ppm (2–15 dGH)

Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.

Care Summary

A brilliantly-coloured and underrated community barb, the Odessa is named (by murky aquarium-trade legend) for the city where it first appeared in the hobby, and the displaying males earn the attention: a broad, glowing red band runs the length of a silver, black-flecked body, intensifying to near-fluorescent scarlet when they spar for females. Crucially, unlike the notorious tiger barb, the Odessa is a genuinely peaceful, well-mannered community fish, with only the mild nipping tendency common to under-grouped barbs. It is hardy, active, tolerant of cooler water (useful for unheated Australian tanks), and happiest in a planted tank with open swimming space and a group of its own kind, where the males' constant low-level displays keep the colour at its peak. An excellent, colourful, and easygoing choice for an active community.

Tankmates

An active, largely peaceful schooling barb, much better-behaved than the tiger barb, that should be kept in a group of at least six; small groups can show a mild fin-nipping tendency that a proper school redirects into harmless display among the males. Its activity and that slight nippiness make it a poor match for slow, long-finned fish such as bettas, fancy guppies, and angelfish, but an excellent companion for other active, robust community species: other barbs, danios, corydoras, and similar. Like several barbs it tolerates cooler water, which suits unheated or lightly-heated tanks and pairs it well with cool-water community fish. Males flush an extraordinary red when displaying and in good condition. Harmless to anything it cannot fit in its mouth.

Compatible with

• Cherry Barb
• Gold Barb
• Rosy Barb
• Zebra Danio
• Bronze Corydoras
• Harlequin Rasbora
• Bristlenose Pleco

Avoid keeping with

• Betta
• Long Finned Species
• Guppy
• Angelfish

Common Problems

• mild fin nipping in groups smaller than 6
• faded colour in bright, bare tanks or small groups
• ich
• stress when kept too warm long-term

Sources: seriouslyfish.com, fishbase.org · Last updated: 2026-06-20