Odessa barb tank mates

Good matches

72 of 98

The safest picks for odessa barbs are bettas, corydoras and paradise fish. Each match shares odessa barbs' temperature and pH and leaves them alone.

Calmer than a tiger barb, with similar colour.

Temperature: 70–79°F
pH: 6–7.5
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum tank: 30 gal
With care: 14
Avoid: 12

How each group of fish does with odessa barbs. Click through below for the reason behind every verdict.

Good tank mates

Possible, with care

Pea puffer Pea puffers are aggressive, though odessa barbs are big enough to shrug most of it off.
Cherry shrimp Odessa barbs will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give cherry shrimp somewhere to hide.
Amano shrimp Odessa barbs will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give amano shrimp somewhere to hide.
Ghost shrimp Odessa barbs will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give ghost shrimp somewhere to hide.
Bamboo shrimp Odessa barbs will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give bamboo shrimp somewhere to hide.
Koi At 24 inches a koi can swallow a small odessa barb. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
African dwarf frog African dwarf frogs eat slowly and nearly blind. Fast odessa barbs will take the food first, so target-feed them.
Common pleco Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for odessa barbs.
Bala shark A grown bala shark may treat small odessa barbs as food, especially at night.
Molly Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.5.
Zebra pleco They only share 79°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Tinfoil barb A grown tinfoil barb may treat small odessa barbs as food, especially at night.
Electric yellow cichlid Different water: odessa barbs want pH 6–7.5, yellow labs want pH 7.8–8.6.
Peacock cichlid Different water: peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, odessa barbs want pH 6–7.5.

Avoid

Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); odessa barbs need 70–79°F. No temperature suits both.
Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches odessa barbs do.
Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches odessa barbs do.
Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches odessa barbs do.
Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful odessa barbs.
Jack Dempsey An adult jack dempsey eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches odessa barbs do.
German blue ram No shared temperature. Rams need 80–86°F, odessa barbs need 70–79°F.
Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches odessa barbs do.
White cloud minnow White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); odessa barbs need 70–79°F. They overlap only at 70–72°F, the edge of both ranges.
African cichlid African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful odessa barbs.
Discus No shared temperature. Discus need 82–88°F, odessa barbs need 70–79°F.
Flowerhorn No shared temperature. Flowerhorns need 80–89°F, odessa barbs need 70–79°F.

Planning a mixed tank? The tank mate checker tests every pair at once. Or read the odessa barb care sheet.

Questions

What are the best tank mates for odessa barbs?

Bettas, Corydoras, Paradise fish, Guppies, Bolivian rams. They share odessa barbs' temperature and pH and leave them alone.

What fish should not live with odessa barbs?

Axolotls, Oscars, Bichirs, Black ghost knives, Convict cichlids. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); odessa barbs need 70–79°F. No temperature suits both.

How is compatibility checked?

Each pair is compared on temperature and pH overlap, adult size and mouth size, fin nipping, temperament and territory. The worst result decides the verdict.