Odessa barb (Pethia padamya) care guide

Group

Freshwater fish

Other names

Ruby barb, Odessa

Family

Cyprinidae (Smiliogastrinae, barbs)

Origin

Central Myanmar: an artificial pond above the Anisakan Falls and the lower Chindwin River basin (Ayeyarwady drainage); clear waters with few plants over gravel or mud.

Water

freshwater

Maximum size

4.6 cm

Temperature

16–25°C

pH

6.5–8.5

Hardness

Moderately soft to hard, 5–20 dGH

Minimum tank

72 litres

Care level

beginner

Temperament

peaceful

Care

The Odessa barb is a hardy, peaceful barb that does well in a community tank. It is a schooling fish and looks and behaves best in a group of at least 8–10, which also lets the males show off their colour to each other. A tank with a base of at least 80 × 30 cm (around 72 litres) is a sensible minimum. Give it open swimming space with plants, driftwood and rocks around the edges for cover. It can jump, so a tight-fitting lid is a good idea. In the wild it lives in clear water with few aquatic plants over gravel or mud. It is a subtropical fish that tolerates a wide range of conditions: about 16–25 °C, pH roughly 6.5–8.5 and moderately soft to hard water (5–20 dGH). It does not need high temperatures. Males are striking, with a broad bright red to orange-red band along the flanks and strongly marked black-spotted fins. Females are deeper-bodied and much plainer, mostly silvery to olive with only a faint wash of colour. Farmed fish are said to keep their colour better under stress than wild fish. The fish has been in the hobby since the early 1970s, and the common name comes from its first appearance among fishkeepers in Odessa (now Odesa), Ukraine. For decades it was thought to be a hybrid or a colour form of another barb, until wild populations were found and it was formally described as a new species in 2008. 'Ruby barb', a name used in the Myanmar ornamental fish trade, refers to the male's red colour. Nearly all fish sold are farmed. The IUCN lists the species as Data Deficient. Sources: Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/pethia-padamya/); FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Pethia-padamya.html); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pethiapadamya). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Probably a foraging omnivore that eats worms, insects, other small invertebrates and plant matter. In the aquarium give a good flake or granule with some plant content, plus regular small live or frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and Artemia to keep the males' colours at their best.

Breeding

An egg-scattering free spawner that gives no parental care and will eat its eggs. Move a well-conditioned pair or small group to a breeding tank with fine-leaved plants, spawning mops or mesh over the base, and remove the adults once spawning has finished. Eggs hatch in 24–48 hours and the fry swim freely about a day later. Feed infusoria-sized foods first, then microworm and newly hatched brine shrimp. The young take several months to mature.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful and suits community tanks of similar-sized, non-aggressive fish that are happy at similar temperatures, such as other small barbs, danios, rasboras, tetras, loaches and other bottom-dwellers. Avoid large or aggressive fish, and keep it in a proper group so males do not pester each other or tankmates.

Last updated 5 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.