Barb identification and dead cherry shrimps.

[chrispp]

Hi, I have one hitchhiking barb in my tank who we originally thought was a golden dwarf. But since last week, we noticed a tinge of red on her sides which we suspected she might be a ticto barb instead. She's currently about 4cm big - twice the size as my endler guppies. Does anyone know which barb she actually is?

Coincidentally, two of our cherry shrimps had died and their eggs and heads eaten. Could this be caused by this barb?

Thanks

 

[G H Nelson]

Odessa barb......female!

 

[Connswater]

Immature and perhaps a female makes a firm identification really hard, I'm no expert, but may well be Barbus ticto, adults reach about 4 inches in ideal conditions, possibly, though less likely Barbus cumingi, a smaller fish, up to around 2 inches .
Small barbs will definitely eat dead shrimp and larger ones attack smaller shrimp.

 

[Connswater]

Odessa barb......female!
View attachment 226614

Odessa barb

Yep, apparently confused with ticto in the literature until this century, I just read! I can't tell the difference in immature fish at all, I'm impressed.

 

[G H Nelson]

At 4cm it's already a young Adult......Males are far more colourful at that size!

 

[chrispp]

At 4cm it's already a young Adult......Males are far more colourful at that size!
View attachment 226616

This looks exactly like mine! Is it odessa?
Do they normally attack berry shrimps? My shrimps were the same size as the endler guppies. If she attacks the shrimps, does that mean there's a chance she might attack the guppies too?

 

[G H Nelson]

Odessa barb, yes!
I think the Endlers will be okay.
I would remove the barb and take it back to the shop where you made the purchases, I'm sure they will have others they can add this one to!