It is pretty easy to determine the males from female Odessa Barbs. The males have a beige to light brown body that displays a bright red stripe that runs through the length of the body. Males will also have red irises with a narrow black streak through the middle of the eye. In addition, the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins of the male are yellowish-green in colour, with contrasting black spots.
Females are duller, with a light beige body and a reflecting silvery sheen on the scales. The female fins are pale yellowish-green; however, only the dorsal fin contains contrasting black spots, which are usually fainter than the males. Both males and females have a black, prominent spot in the dorsal area and a smaller spot in the caudal region.