All fish / Cyprinidae

Ticto barb

Pethia ticto

Also known as ticto barb, two-spot barb, tic-tac-toe barb, odessa barb, puntius ticto, barbus ticto, firefin barb, ticto, ティクトバルブ, 提克多鲃, 双点无须鲃

This is a small silvery barb with a black spot near the tail and another behind the gill cover. Breeding males develop a red stripe along the body and black-speckled, reddish dorsal fins. It is hardy, active and copes with cooler water, so it suits unheated community tanks and beginners.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

14 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 8

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and small pellets, plus live or frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp, with some plant matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

South Asia: India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar

Breeding

It scatters eggs over fine-leaved plants or mesh and gives no parental care, so the adults will eat eggs if left in the tank. Spawning is fairly easy in a separate tank with soft, slightly acidic water and a small rise in temperature. The fry are tiny and need infusoria at first, then baby brine shrimp.

Good to know

Some fish sold as Odessa barbs are a separate species, Pethia padamya, so check which one you are buying. If kept in small numbers it may nip the fins of slow, long-finned tankmates.