Odessa cormorant - Puntius padamya

Although the Odessa barb , Puntius padamya, can already be found in the trade since the early '70s, myths and conjectures still surrounded this pretty barb until recently, which alone makes the aquarist's heart beat faster in terms of color. But nobody really knew where this fish originally came from. It wasn't until almost 20 years ago that light finally came into the darkness as more information became known. So the fish were offered for sale for the first time on an ornamental fish market in Odessa, whereby the animals also got their German name. At that time they were only available in the German East and were later commercially bred thanks to Asian breeding facilities. Until then it was generally assumed that they were a breeding form. However, only exporters from Singapore were able to say with certainty how they were really classified: according to their research, the animals originated from Burmese waters, more precisely from the catchment area of the Chindwin-Irrawaddy basin.

In the meantime, the animals available in the trade are almost all offsprings, which, by the way, are also larger and stronger than the former wild catches. Especially the male specimens are immediately noticeable by their coloration. The body is slightly high-backed and has a sub-terminal mouth. On the gray ground color with light belly side are silver shimmering large scales with partly pronounced net pattern. From the gill cover to the caudal fin there is a red band that extends into the caudal fins, also the eye is red banded. Dorsal, anal and pelvic fins are black fringed and have black linear spots on the partial yellow fin color. The pectoral fins are transparent. Some specimens develop a black spot above the red lateral line just behind the gill cover on the shoulder, some even on the caudal peduncle. There is therefore some resemblance and thus confusion with the sunspot barb, P. Stoliczkanus.

Odessa barbs are generally sociable and quite adaptable animals, which can spend the summer even in the pond, if it does not fall below 12 ° C. They are excellent also for beginners and should be kept in larger groups due to their distinct social behavior, otherwise they tend to tug at fine plants and the fins of their fellow fish.

Mainly because of their coloration the males already differ optically clearly from the females, which are rather gray mice and occasionally show the black shoulder and caudal peduncle spot only hinted. In addition, these are stronger in stature.

Breeding Odessa barbs is possible if you have a bit of skill. To get the animals in spawning mood, two water changes should be omitted, the animals should be separated without visual contact and fed heavily with small live food at low temperatures between 18-20° C. The spawning should take place during this time. During this time the spawning tank, which should be at least 20 liters, should be prepared, but supplied with fresh water shortly before the breeding pair is transferred. The spawning tank does not necessarily need a substrate, but since Odessa Barbs tend to eat their spawn, it is worthwhile to place a spawning grid just above the bottom and stock it with fine plants or Java moss, alternatively other spawning substrate. Although the fish are generally very tolerant of their water values, it is definitely worthwhile to acidify the breeding water. A pH-value of 6.3-6.9 and a low total hardness up to a maximum of 7° dGH at a temperature of approx. 25-27° C have proven to be suitable. Like most fish, the animals brought together spawn already in the early following morning hours. The male, once in a mating mood, drives the female strongly, initially laying 300 eggs or more. The animals can spawn for days, but the daily egg count decreases visibly. Once the pair is returned, it does not take long for the first fry to hatch. The larvae are tiny and require the greatest attention from the keeper and good water hygiene. They should be fed several times a day and require large water changes, during which the substrate is also thoroughly cleaned. For breeding, infusoria and slipperfish are suitable in the beginning, then live, very fresh Artemia nauplii, microworms and rearing food in dust form.

Odessa barbs are by nature very robust and adaptable animals, for which water values hardly play a role, as long as the aquarium is properly maintained, including water changes. Since they prefer to be kept in groups of 10 or more, an aquarium of 80 liters upwards is recommended. The substrate also plays only a subordinate role, but roots and stones as well as sometimes a dense jungle of stem plants should offer enough retreat possibilities and visual protection, since Odessa danios also clarify their hierarchy and lower-ranking animals need shelters.

Odessa barbs are also lively and agile and swim stretches, again they should be given enough swimming space. They can be socialized with other barbs, but hybridization in the community aquarium is unlikely, as barbs are usually fastidious nest predators. Even if they are otherwise compatible, apart from occasional catfights, they should not be socialized with long-finned fish such as guppies, angelfish, veiltail variants or fighting fish, also threadfish are rather not recommended.

Since they are real live food gourmets, a socialization with invertebrates would be rather inadvisable, at most with dwarf crayfish. Odessa barbs occasionally have "a bad day", mainly when they cannot live out their social behavior, which is appropriate for their species. This manifests itself in plucking at plants and fins. In this case the aquarium conditions should be checked and adjusted.

Odessa barbs can be spoiled with small live foods as well as frozen foods such as cyclops, hoppers and water fleas, but will also eat dry foods such as granules and flakes or tablets.

Our food recommendation:  NatureHolic professional Hauptfeed is a professional staple food for all aquarium fish. We supply Hauptfeed in the form of a soft granulate which, thanks to its grain size of half a millimeter, can be easily ingested by small to medium-sized fish. The soft consistency resembles the texture of insect larvae in nature and protects the fish mouth from micro-injuries.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free from algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.