The Odessa barb (lat. Pethia padamya) is a small, bright and active fish. Unfortunately, it is less spread than other barb species. Earlier it was considered that the fish was one of Puntius ticto coloring variations (which natural coloring doesn’t have wide red stripe along its body peculiar for this species).
This version is quite prevailing in literature on aquarium husbandry. In 2008 Pethia padamya was described as a separate species.
The tinfoil barb (scientific name lat. Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) is a very large fish from Cyprinidae family. It can be up to 14 inches (35 cm) long. Quite often the juveniles are sold on the market and nobody tells about how large the fish becomes as an adult one and as a result, the fish quickly overgrows any tank of a common aquarist and then requires a really spacious tank.
Though as a rule barb demonstrates quite peaceful attitude towards large fishes, it eagerly feeds on smaller ones, which makes the fish completely unsuitable for community tanks.
Denison barb (lat. Sahyadria denisonii, ex. Puntius denisonii) is one of the fishes that are getting popular with surprisingly high rate. The fish has become a subject of aquarists focus quite recently. This India-born fish has become rather renowned species due to its appealing look and interesting behavior.
The fish is quite large (if compared to other barb species), active and brightly colored one. It inhabits in India, but the uncontrolled fishing-out of this fish for several years has led to the situation that now barb is danger of extinction. India government introduced limitations on fishing this species in the wild and currently barb is bred in the fish farms or caught in the wild by small groups of poachers.
Zebra danio (lat. Danio rerio) is a good looking and unpretentious fish, which is a perfect choice for a beginning aquarists. This schooling fish easily breeds in captivity and it was even used for science experiments.
