Odessa Barb

The Odessa Barb is justifiably regarded as one of the most attractive barb species in the freshwater hobby. Males in breeding condition are extraordinary: a vivid scarlet-red horizontal stripe blazes along the mid-body, flanked by rows of black-spotted metallic scales on the back and pale silver on the belly, and the fins carry black and red accents. The overall effect is of a jewel-like fish that stands out dramatically against planted backgrounds. Females are far less colorful — pale beige with faint markings — but play an important role in triggering display in males. Named after the Ukrainian city of Odessa where the species first appeared in the European aquarium trade in the 1970s (its wild origin in Myanmar was only confirmed much later), the Odessa Barb is a moderately cool-water species native to the Chindwin River system. It is semi-aggressive in the typical barb manner but significantly less prone to fin-nipping than Tiger Barbs when kept in appropriate schools. At 6 cm it requires at least an 80-liter aquarium, and it does best with moderate water flow and good oxygenation.