Odessa Barb
Pethia padamya

Basic Information
Maximum Size: 2"

Recommended Aquarium Size: 10-G Minimum

pH: 6.0 - 7.5

Hardness: 2-25°

Temperature: 60 - 75 °

Temperment: Unaggressive; schooling

The Odessa Barb, Pethia padamya, is an excellent community aquarium fish

The Odessa Barb has been a long term staple in the aquarium hobby, though with much confusion. This fish hails from Myanmar, which is rather far from "Odessa." Fish were apparently imported into the Russian port city in the mid-1900s, and named after the city. Their exact origins were lost, as the fish became farm produced. This lead to some speculation that the Odessa Barb was the product of hybridisation with a number of parent species suggested (and claims of producing the same fish appeared in some hobby literature). However, recently wild populations of this fish have been discovered.
The Odessa Barb is a peaceful, shoaling barb that will mix well with most community fishes. It can be used as a dither fish with active cichlids.