My Fish Tanks

Scientific Name : Puntius sp.

Common Names : Scarlet Barb, Ticto Barb

Care Level : Easy

Size : 3 inches (8 cm)

pH : 6 – 7

Temperature : 70°F – 78°F (21°C – 26°C)

Water Hardness : 2° to 10° dH

Origin / Habitat : Indonesia, Sumatra

Lifespan : 3 years or more

Temperament / Behavior : The Odessa Barb can be aggressive with other Odessas in the same tank and it is usually the males bickering over a dominance position within the school. They may also nip at slower moving fish with larger fins, such as Angelfish.

Breeding / Mating / Reproduction : An egg scatterer, it can be difficult if not impossible to breed in a community aquarium. A bare bottom breeding tank will increase your chance of success as well as a slightly lower pH. Remove the adults after they have dropped and fertilized the eggs.

Tank Size : 10 gallon for one – you’ll need a larger tank when keeping multiples.

Compatible Tank Mates : Slow swimming fish and fish with larger fins may make an attractive nipping target for this Barb.

Fish Disease : Freshwater Fish Disease – Diagnose, Symptoms and Treatment

Diet / Fish Food : Omnivore, will accept flake, freeze-dried and live foods. Vary their diet but try to give them a good quality flake food as the main source of their nutrition.

Tank Region : This is a relatively fast swimming fish that will roam all over, but mostly stays in the middle region of the tank.

Gender : The female is usually bigger and the males should develop more coloration as they mature.

Gallery Photos : Odessa Barb Photos

For a freshwater fish, the Odessa Barb can rival the colors of most saltwater species. They are considered hardy and will tolerate a wide range of water parameters but will thrive in well planted tanks that are slightly on the acidic side of the pH range. They may be difficult to find at your local fish store, but ask your store to order some for you. You may be required to leave a small deposit but it will be well worth getting a school of these beauties.

The male Odessas are usually the colorful ones while the females become plumper when developing eggs. If you want to try your hand at breeding them you will need a bare bottom tank and you will have to remove the adults after they have fertilized the eggs. It should take 3 to 5 days for the eggs to hatch. Be ready to feed them infusoria for the first few weeks and then baby brine shrimp. Frequent partial water changes (daily) are required during the grow out stages as well.

They are not picky eaters and they should eat most fish food that hits the tank water. Give them some live or frozen fish food ocassionally and they will reward you with great coloration and lots of activity.

If you get a school of these barbs, you might see some territorial aggression or tests of dominance among the males. These little battles shouldn’t last long and they really should not be cause for concern. If it gets out of hand though, be prepared to separate the weaker fish. They should play nicely with the other fish in the tank but watch for fin nipping. Fin nipping may be dimished if you keep a school of Odessa Barbs in your tank.