Odessa Barb – Pethia padamya 4.6 cm

🏠 Habitat & Tank Setup

• Tank Size: A minimum of 20 gallons is recommended for a small group.

• Water Parameters:

  • Temperature: 22–26°C (72–79°F)

  • pH: 6.5–8.5

  • Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water

• Tank Design: Provide open swimming areas with ample hiding spots using driftwood, rocks, and plants. Floating plants can help diffuse lighting and create a more natural environment. 

🐠 Behavior & Tankmates

• Temperament: Generally peaceful and social; best kept in groups of 6 or more.

• Tankmates: Suitable for community tanks with other small, non-aggressive species. Avoid keeping with long-finned fish, as Odessa Barbs may nip at them. 

🍽️ Diet

• Feeding: Omnivorous; accepts high-quality flake foods, micro pellets, and live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp and daphnia.

• Feeding Frequency: Feed once or twice daily with an amount they can consume within 2–3 minutes.

🧬 Breeding

• Spawning: Egg scatterers; females lay eggs on the substrate, which hatch in 24–36 hours. To prevent adults from eating the eggs, place marbles or mesh at the bottom of the breeding tank.

• Raising Fry: After hatching, feed fry infusoria or finely crushed flake food until they are large enough to accept larger foods