Odessa Barb

[Stingro]

I bought 8 recently. 3 males and 5 females. Their colors are dull right now, aside from the dominant male is showing some of his red. Any tips on how to get these guys to color up more? Types of food maybe?

 

[sir_keith]

Happy fishes are colorful fishes. Odessa barbs are beautiful, and they show best in a heavily planted tank containing slightly acidic water. A diet consisting of high-quality flakes, including vegetable flakes, and frozen brine shrimp should provide everything they need to make those pretty red pigments. Cichlids are notorious for only showing best when kept under optimal conditions; many cyprinids are the same way.

I once had a 55g species tank with a large school of Odessa's and abundant Vallisneria; it was stunning. Good luck!