Did You Know There Are 2 Species Of Odessa Barb!?

[JustAFishServant]

I just learned there are at least 2 species of Odessa Barb; Puntius ticto and Pethia padamya. I think it's confusing; they look quite different!

Worse, P. pedamya is sometimes known as Ticto Barb; the species name of the previous fish!

They're clearly within a different genus and are a different species, so what is this? Is one a "true" and one a "false" odessa barb, do they both hail from the same location, or is it a classic case of convergent evolution?

Pethia padamya common names: Odessa Barb, Ruby Barb, Scarlet Barb

Puntius ticto common names: Odessa Barb, Ticto Barb, Two-Spot Barb

 

[Redshark1]

You are talking about two different species but you are giving them the same common name for some reason. There is only one Odessa Barb in my experience, Pethia padamya from Myanmar. Pethia ticto is the Ticto Barb.

You can check scientific and common names by visiting the more authoritative websites.

 

[JustAFishServant]

You are talking about two different species but you are giving them the same common name for some reason.

You're not being rude are you? I'm only sharing my experiences.

There is only one Odessa Barb in my experience, Pethia padamya from Myanmar. Pethia ticto is the Ticto Barb.

You can check scientific and common names by visiting the more authoritative websites.

I've seen first-hand both of these fish called odessa barbs online, brick-and-mortar fish stores, and websites. I had no idea there were 2 different species both called Odessa Barb! I understand P. padamya is the usual Odessa we see in stores, but the Ticta Barb is often sold as Odessa as well. I suppose it makes sense as they look quite similar.

I suspect it's a case of misidentification. If the Ticta is sometimes sold as Odessa, and the Odessa is sometimes sold as Ticta, it makes sense.

 

[chromedome52]

Yet another demonstration of why you should take everything you see online with a heaping handful of salt. I dislike using common names for exactly this reason, there is nothing preventing people from using the same label for different fish. That's why i almost always attach a scientific name to the common name on this forum, to verify what fish is being discussed.

 

[Hellfishguy]

In all my years of fish keeping I’ve never see Pethia ticto offered for sale. I’ve only ever seen it listed in very old aquarium books.