Ticto/odessa Barbs, Biotope Tank Mates

[Fishyworld]

Hi,
 
I am setting up a Biotope aquarium (33gallons/128L), with Odessa/Ticto barbs. Does anyone have some suggestions for suitable tank mates from Myanmar? Also suitable plant species?

 

[TheTankMan]

The Odessa barb originates from south-east Asia, fish from the same region which will be compatible with this barb include Harlequin Rasboras (top level), Cherry barbs, Rosy barbs (midwater swimmers),  Yoyo/Bengal loaches (bottom-dwellers)

 

[Fishyworld]

Will the Yoyo loaches get to big for my tank?

 

[TheTankMan]

Yoyo loaches grow to an average maximum size of 6 inches, if your tank is long, then they should do okay. They need a long tank as they are very active fish.
 
They prefer the company of their own kind, so if you do get them, it is recommended that you get around 4-5
 
I own them myself, and I have to say, they are very awesome fish
 
They are very playful, interactive fish, they are either racing and chasing eachother around the tank or resting together on their sides.
 
If you feel that they may be too big for your tank, you can buy Zebra loaches instead which only grow to around 4 inches.
 
Both loaches do a great job of eating small snails btw, and a sand substrate + caves is highly recommended for them.

 

[TooManyChoices]

From SeriouslyFish. http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/pethia-padamya/
 

 
The type specimens were collected at an altitude of around 3000m above sea level.
The waters were generally clear, lacking in aquatic plants, and flowing over limestone resulting in a pH value of around 11.0.
Substrates in the area were of gravel or mud (R. Britz, pers. comm.).

 

 
Fishes inhabiting similar biotopes in nature, especially comparably-sized, open water-dwelling cyprinids perhaps constitute the best choices but other potential options include balitorid, cobitid, and nemacheilid loaches as well as benthic cyprinids such as Crossocheilus and Garra species.
Quite a few fishes from the Ayeyarwady basin are available in the trade including Danio choprae, D. albolineatus, D. kyathit, D. tinwini, D. shanensis, Pethia stoliczkana, P. tiantian, P. ticto, Acanthocobitis botia,Schistura vinciguerrae, Lepidocephalichthys berdmorei, and Crossocheilus latius.
 

 

[Fishyworld]

Thanks

 

[Fishyworld]

Hey,
 
So this is what I was thinking 5-10 odessa barbs
Badis Badis x5 or so
Celestial pearl Danio x5
 and three yoyo loaches
 
will these species work well together?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Tank dimensions?
 
It would need to be 120cm long minimum to house any Yoyo Loaches, but if you are going to get loaches, you need to be buying more than three. Loaches form complex hierarchies and keeping them in low numbers will result in bad bullying, even deaths. Six would be a minimum number, but 10+ (obviously in a much bigger tank) is better for almost all loach species.
 
Panda Garras are a geotope option (coming from Myanmar), either as a singleton or 3+ in a 90cm or longer tank, never to be bought as in 2s (again severe bullying), but like Yoyo Loaches, this will restrict the tank temp to at least 19C.
 
Bare in mind Odessa Barbs are temperate and in a suitable tank, they could live with Denisons Barbs (or Gold/Chinese Barbs, lots of other options if you research), where the temp varies from ~15-25C through the seasons in a heaterless tank.

 

[Fishyworld]

 My tank is 77cm long so I'm thinking that loaches probably won't work.

 

[Fishyworld]

Okay so full tank dimensions is 77cm long 36cm wide and 46cm deep.
 
I was thinking now for fish stock, I would like
 
x1 Panda Garras (Not sure if my tank is to small)
 
x6 odessa barbs
 
x3 stripped or dwarf gouramis
 
(If I go with the dwarf gouramis instead of the stripped, I might increase the panda garras to x3 instead of x1)
 
 
Would these species be okay together? I have read that the odessa barbs like lower tmeperatures but will they be alright at a higher temp probably 22 degrees or so.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

The barbs and the garra do far better in tanks with a decent flow, far more than fiesty Dwarf Gourami will be happy in. I'd up the barbs to 8-10, a singleton garra will be fine, perhaps with a group of ~6 Askysis vespa or similar.
 
Aim for 19-21C, the cooler water will raise oxygen levels and save you money.

 

[Fishyworld]

The barbs and the garra do far better in tanks with a decent flow, far more than fiesty Dwarf Gourami will be happy in. I'd up the barbs to 8-10, a singleton garra will be fine, perhaps with a group of ~6 Askysis vespa or similar.
 
Aim for 19-21C, the cooler water will raise oxygen levels and save you money.

 
Thanks, I have read about the Askysis vespa and did consider them. I think I will go with more odessas and maybe some celestial Danios plus a garra and some Askysis vespas

 

[Fishyworld]

Hmmm
I have been reading that although most barbs prefer faster flowing streams Odessas are actually mostly found in heavily planted still waters, especially in the Myanmar area that I want to recreate. So that would suit a banded gourami

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I'd definitely scrap Celestial Pearl Danios from this combo, if kept in communities, they need to be with other small (~2cm) and peaceful fish.
 
I believe Akysis spp. are quite sensitive to warm water, but I might be getting my wires crossed. Is a water temp of 20-22C realistic in this tank?
 
I've read about quite a few fishkeepers finding their Odessa Barbs quite skittish. A big 10+ group would help, but an upper water dither species would help even further and I have no idea of an upper water fish from Myanmar off the top of my head!
 
Edit: Pearl Danios are biotope correct and would be perfect dithers, just seen Danio choprae at SeriouslyFish and that rang a bell as a species that some found helped settle their Odessa Barbs too.

 

[DerpPH]

Myanmar fish? Stiphodon Species . Some are from myanmar. So are some sicyopterus. For a bottomfeeder Id suggest a stiphodon or two. Plus they are temperate fish.