Golden Odessa Barb
Pethia padamya
Origin: Endemic to central Myanmar. Known from an artificial pond near Toe Gyi village in the Mandalay division and from the lower Chindwin River, a tributary of the Ayeyarwady.
Also known as: Fire Barb, Scarlet Barb, Odessa barb
Fact sheet
- Size
- 6 cm
- Lifespan
- 5 years
- Minimum tank size
- 60 L
- Temperature
- 20–27 °C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Hardness GH
- 5–15 °dH
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swimming zone
- Middle
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Jumps out
- Yes
- Eats plants
- No
Overview
Rare leucistic form with a golden-yellow body. The red stripe is less pronounced but present in males. Considerably rarer in the trade than the standard form.
Appearance
Shared with the species: Odessa Barb
Adult males reach 4.6–5 cm. The body is silvery-olive with a vivid red horizontal stripe running from the gill cover to the caudal peduncle. Scale edges create a reticulate pattern. Fins are yellowish-green with black spots near the dorsal and caudal base. Females are considerably duller — pale beige with a silvery sheen and less pronounced spotting.
Care
Shared with the species: Odessa Barb
An aquarium footprint of at least 80 × 30 cm (~72 L) is required. Dense planting over a dark substrate with floating cover brings out the best coloration. Water parameters: temperature 16–25 °C, pH 6.5–8.5, hardness 5–20 dGH. A secure lid is necessary as the fish are jumpers. Keep in groups of at least 8; in smaller numbers males harass other species.
Feeding
Shared with the species: Odessa Barb
In nature they forage on invertebrates, worms, insects, and plant matter. In the aquarium they readily accept small bloodworm, Daphnia, and Artemia (live or frozen) alongside quality flake food with a vegetable component. Regular live food offerings trigger full breeding coloration in males.
Compatibility
Shared with the species: Odessa Barb
A peaceful species well suited to a community aquarium with similarly sized calm fish: tetras, rasboras, danios, corydoras, and small dwarf cichlids like Mikrogeophagus ramirezi. Males may chase other species when kept in small numbers. Avoid pairing with large aggressive species.
Breeding
Shared with the species: Odessa Barb
Egg-scattering free spawner with no parental care. Condition breeders separately on live foods. Introduce them to a densely planted breeding tank; spawning typically occurs the following morning. Eggs are tiny and adhere to plant leaves. Incubation 24–48 h; fry become free-swimming about 24 h after hatching. First food: infusoria or green water, progressing to Artemia nauplii.
Fun facts
Shared with the species: Odessa Barb
The male's red stripe appears early in life but reaches peak saturation through competitive interactions with rival males, making group size a key factor in color display. The type locality — a pond near Anisakan Falls — has water pH around 11 due to underlying limestone, which explains the species' unusually wide pH tolerance among barbs. For three decades the 'Odessa barb' was traded without a scientific name; it was formally described as Pethia padamya by Siti Jamaliah, Kottelat, and Zin Thida in 2008.