Tankwise

A colourful, peaceful barb whose males show a bright red stripe when settled.

  • Temperature20–26 °C
  • pH6.5–7.5
  • Minimum tank60 L
  • DifficultyBeginner
FoodFlake + frozen food
Feeding1–2 feeds a day
Water change25% weekly

Behaviour and habits

The Odessa barb is an active, colourful shoaler whose males develop a vivid red stripe over a silvery body, one of the brightest small barbs. It is far calmer than the tiger barb, rarely nipping, and it spends the day weaving between plants and open water in a group of six or more. It colours up remarkably well in a planted tank with good food, and it is a hardy, undemanding fish for a community.

What to feed, and how often

A good flake or micro-pellet plus frozen daphnia and bloodworm, and let it graze algae between meals. Feed once or twice a day and vary the diet, which deepens the males' red stripe and keeps the shoal in condition.

Water changes and maintenance

Change 25% weekly in soft-to-neutral water, matched closely. It is undemanding, but stable, clean water is what keeps the males in full colour and the group active.

Care and how easy it is

A great beginner barb — hardy, peaceful and colourful, happy in a planted community with a group of six or more.

Common health problems

Hardy; the usual issues are ich after a chill and fin rot in poor water.

If it gets sick

Keep the water warm and clean, quarantine new fish, and treat ich early rather than waiting for spots to spread.

Good tank mates

GuppyBeginner with population planning
GuppyPoecilia reticulata
  • 22-26 C
  • pH 7.0-8.5
  • 60 L+; 60 x 30 cm base
Livebearers | Social; males pursue females | Omnivore
PlatyBeginner
PlatyXiphophorus maculatus
  • 20–26°C
  • pH 7–8.2
  • 50 L+
Livebearers · Peaceful · Omnivore
MollyBeginner
MollyPoecilia sphenops
  • 22–28°C
  • pH 7–8.5
  • 70 L+
Livebearers · Peaceful · Omnivore

Best avoided with

Similar species

Harlequin rasboraBeginner
Harlequin rasboraTrigonostigma heteromorpha
  • 22–27°C
  • pH 6–7.5
  • 60 L+
Tetras & rasboras · Peaceful · Omnivore
Zebra danioBeginner
Zebra danioDanio rerio
  • 18–26°C
  • pH 6.5–8
  • 60 L+
Danios & minnows · Peaceful · Omnivore
White cloud mountain minnowBeginner
White cloud mountain minnowTanichthys albonubes
  • 16–24°C
  • pH 6–8
  • 50 L+
Danios & minnows · Peaceful · Omnivore

Compare at a glance

ParametersOdessa barbHarlequin rasboraZebra danioWhite cloud mountain minnow
Parameters
Temp20–26 °C22–27 °C18–26 °C16–24 °C
pH6.5–7.56–7.56.5–86–8
GH4–15 °dGH2–12 °dGH4–20 °dGH4–18 °dGH
Min. tank60 L60 L60 L50 L
Size5 cm5 cm5 cm4 cm
DietOmnivoreOmnivoreOmnivoreOmnivore
TemperamentPeacefulPeacefulPeacefulPeaceful
DifficultyBeginnerBeginnerBeginnerBeginner

Care guides

GuideHow Often Should You Feed Fish?Overfeeding causes more aquarium problems than underfeeding. Here is a realistic feeding routine, and the signs that you are giving too much.GuideHow Often Should You Change Aquarium Water?Water changes remove waste that the filter cannot, and keep minerals topped up. There is no single number, but there is a simple way to find yours.GuideHow to Treat Ich (White Spot Disease)Ich looks alarming but is one of the most treatable fish diseases. Act early, raise the heat, and it clears within a week or two — here is how.GuideFishless Cycling: The Kindest Way to Start a TankFishless cycling builds the filter's bacteria before any fish goes in, so your first fish never lives through toxic water. Here is how to do it.GuideHow to Acclimate New Fish (Float and Drip)How you introduce a new fish decides whether it settles or stresses. Float, mix and net — the right way to acclimate a new arrival in half an hour.

New to the words? See the aquarium glossary.

Sources and research notes

Parameters are typical ranges for the species in home aquariums and vary with the individual fish and the water you use.