Odessa barb Tank Mates
Short answer: the best odessa barb tank mates are Dwarf gourami, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Neon tetra, Platy. Odessa barbs need 61–77 °F (16–25 °C), pH 6.5–8.5 and at least 30 gallons. Keep them in a group of 6 or more.
Odessa barb care at a glance
| Adult size | 2.4 in (6 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 30 US gallons |
| Temperature | 61–77 °F (16–25 °C) |
| pH | 6.5–8.5 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Middle |
| Group size | Groups of 6+ |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (40)
- Dwarf gourami
- Bristlenose pleco
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Neon tetra
- Platy
- Nerite snail
- Amano shrimp
- Celestial pearl danio
- Chili rasbora
- Ember tetra
- Mystery snail
- Otocinclus
- Panda cory
- Bronze cory
- Cardinal tetra
- Cherry barb
- Honey gourami
- Kuhli loach
- Rummy nose tetra
- White cloud mountain minnow
- Zebra danio
- Swordtail
- Rainbow shark
- Red tail shark
- Siamese algae eater
- Common pleco
- Pygmy cory
- Sparkling gourami
- Black neon tetra
- Bloodfin tetra
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Glass catfish
- Lemon tetra
- Peppered cory
- X-ray tetra
- Congo tetra
- Gold barb
- Rosy barb
⚠️ Possible with caution (21)
- Cherry shrimp — Odessa barb will eat baby cherry shrimp (and some individuals hunt adults), so a shrimp colony may not grow. Dense plants and moss help.
- Betta fish — Odessa barb sometimes nips long fins, so betta fish may get harassed.
- Guppy — Odessa barb sometimes nips long fins, so guppy may get harassed.
- Fancy goldfish — An adult fancy goldfish (up to 20 cm) may try to eat smaller Odessa barb (6 cm), especially at night.
- Tiger barb — Tiger barb may nip at calmer tankmates like Odessa barb; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Angelfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Angelfish 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Endler's livebearer — Very narrow shared temperature range: Endler's livebearer 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Black skirt tetra — Black skirt tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like Odessa barb; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Glowlight tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Serpae tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like Odessa barb; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Kribensis — Very narrow shared temperature range: Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Pearl gourami — Very narrow shared temperature range: Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F) vs Pearl gourami 24–30 °C (75–86 °F).
- Three spot gourami — Very narrow shared temperature range: Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F) vs Three spot gourami 24–30 °C (75–86 °F).
- Clown loach — Very narrow shared temperature range: Clown loach 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Forktail blue-eye — Very narrow shared temperature range: Forktail blue-eye 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Sterbai cory — Very narrow shared temperature range: Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Buenos Aires tetra — Buenos Aires tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like Odessa barb; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Upside-down catfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F) vs Upside-down catfish 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Firemouth cichlid — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller Odessa barb (6 cm), especially at night.
- Bolivian ram — Very narrow shared temperature range: Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Chinese algae eater — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
❌ Not recommended (10)
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Odessa barb (6 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful Odessa barb.
- German blue ram — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Electric yellow cichlid — Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid: it needs hard, alkaline water and an African-cichlid community, and is too boisterous for Odessa barb.
- Discus — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Paradise fish — Paradise fish is aggressive and will bully peaceful Odessa barb.
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Odessa barb.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — No comfortable shared temperature: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat Odessa barb (6 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Odessa barb (6 cm).
How many Odessa barbs per tank?
40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with Odessa barbs?
Good matches include Dwarf gourami, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Neon tetra, Platy. They share a temperature range with Odessa barbs (61–77 °F (16–25 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with Odessa barbs?
Avoid Oscar, Pea puffer, German blue ram, Electric yellow cichlid, Discus, Paradise fish.
What size tank do Odessa barbs need?
We recommend at least 30 US gallons for a group of 6 Odessa barbs, more if you add tank mates.
Can Odessa barbs live alone?
No. Odessa barbs are social and should be kept in groups of at least 6.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.