Barbs --

[mikev]

My barbs are Odessas, but if you know the answers for some more common similar barb (like Rosy), they would be helpful...

Having no previous experience with Barbs, right now I'm not fully sure if they are doing fine or not...

Question 1: What the growth pattern of Barbs---how long does it take them to reach the full size?
I've seen almost no growth in the last four months from mine: the larger two (both males) remain under 1.5", smaller ones do slowly grow..I understand that Odessa's should reach either 2.5", 3" or even 4" (different profiles give different sizes)...is this normal?

Question 2: What is the appropriate level of aggression? The current pattern is that males briefly chase each other and females every couple of minutes...no fin damage noticed. Lately, females do some of the chasing too. (the reason for asking this is that *possibly* I need to add a couple more females to the current 3+3 group.).

Question 3: (this one is possibly Odessa-specific): to my horror, I noticed in their profile
http/aquaworld.netfirms.com/Cyprinoidae/...arbus_ticto.htm
The fish should be kept cool in the winter, around 14 degrees.
while this profile
http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di...09&js_enabled=0
says 74F-79F (this is what they have right now...and this is what **might have** arrested their growth). Any idea who is right?

Any info would be much appreciated.

 

[diademhill]

Question 1: IME they get to about 1.5" fairly quickly & then slow down. The original P. ticto I had got to about 3"SL Odessas may be a colour variety or a hybrid - who knows?

Question 2: I've never had a problem as long as the numbers were even or slightly more females.

Question 3: These fish can stand a gradual cooling off over winter but don't need it. They can, like wcmm, be kept in ambient temperature tanks as long as the volume is sufficient that sudden temp. changes can be avoided.
HTH
Sue

 

[mikev]

Sue,

Thank you very much -- this makes me feel much better.

On Odessa vs Picto: I don't think this just a color variety, Picto's profiles quote larger size too (like 10cm=4in).

Can I ask a couple more questions:

Q4> am I right in assuming that they live about 5-7 years and that 1.5" is the sexual maturity size?

Q5> are they better off in a planted tank? (right now they are not, but I'm considering changing it).

 

[diademhill]

Sue,

Thank you very much -- this makes me feel much better.

On Odessa vs Picto: I don't think this just a color variety, Picto's profiles quote larger size too (like 10cm=4in).

Can I ask a couple more questions:

Q4> am I right in assuming that they live about 5-7 years and that 1.5" is the sexual maturity size?

Q5> are they better off in a planted tank? (right now they are not, but I'm considering changing it).

I suspect odessas are a hybrid between P ticto & cummings barbs as they show characteristics of both these species & will shoal with either.
MY original P ticto was over 2" when I got it & lived about 7 more years. ( couldn't find it a mate & it lived with Rosy barbs.) Most barbs can live past ten IME.
I've always kept them with plants so I can't say......

 

[mikev]

Thanks for the info, again.

MY original P ticto was over 2" when I got it & lived about 7 more years. ( couldn't find it a mate & it lived with Rosy barbs.)

It took me three months to find mates for my original 3 males. By the time the females arrived (and fighting stopped), one was dead and one badly damaged (he is fine now).

Do you have any idea what would happen if 6 Odessas are in the same tank with 4-6 Rosys' (each group balanced): will they fight?

(Something I've been actually considering for a while ... a mix of Odessa's and Rosy's should look quite nice)

 

[diademhill]

Thanks for the info, again.

MY original P ticto was over 2" when I got it & lived about 7 more years. ( couldn't find it a mate & it lived with Rosy barbs.)

It took me three months to find mates for my original 3 males. By the time the females arrived (and fighting stopped), one was dead and one badly damaged (he is fine now).

Do you have any idea what would happen if 6 Odessas are in the same tank with 4-6 Rosys' (each group balanced): will they fight?

(Something I've been actually considering for a while ... a mix of Odessa's and Rosy's should look quite nice)

Even more stunning if you mix them with P narayani......
Since the original ones I've not kept Rosy barbs but I've kept Odessas with Black Ruby, tigers, pentazonas. clowns and the narayani which are my favorite (and which are superb hair algae eaters. ) In fact the narayani are the only barbs I currently keep.

 

[sylvia]

Rosy barbs would be fine with odessas. Growth rate depends a lot on water temperature (the higher, the greater the metabolic rate and, subsequently, growth rate), water quality (the more water changes, the faster they grow) and food quality (for obvious reasons).

 

[mikev]

Thanks!

(I'm obviously barb-ignorant, but I think you've corrected most of the problem.)

narayani's are beautiful indeed, but they are probably too subtle for me...one probably needs to set up the tank very carefully to appreciate their colors. I only want a few colorful objects (Rosy's), nothing subtle.)

temp and water changes are clear, but what do you mean by food quality? (Maybe I've been mistreating them..) The current diet is mostly flakes, with some meat twice a week (tubefex or mosquito larvae). Since they go crazy on any food, hard to know what they really need.

 

[Lateral Line]

Frozen bllodworm is greedily eaten by most anything. Barbs like some vegetable matter in their diet. Try a few shelled cooked peas. I feed peas 2-3 times a week in my barb tanks.

 

[mikev]

Thanks for the idea!!! -- just tried, and they seem to be happy... did not know barbs can play soccer....

Seeing that Barbs are interested in Pea but Rasboras ignored it, I checked the other fish I have here, with these results:
Odessa Barb: yes
Redtail Rasbora: no
Giant Danios: no (probably only because it is on the ground)
Black Khulis: yes (really excited)
Striped Khulis: no (?!)
Polka Dot Loach: yes
Clown Loach: yes
Schistura Loach: no
Plec: no (surprise for me..he ate apple before).
("No" only means they did not react today...will try again.)