Glass Catfish

The Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus vitreolus) is a popular, transparent freshwater fish native to Thailand. Famous for its see-through body that reveals its skeleton and internal organs, this peaceful shoaling species requires a well-established, 30+ gallon planted tank with stable water conditions and must be kept in groups of at least six.

Key Characteristics

• Transparency:
  Because they lack body pigment and scales, you can observe their internal organs and spine. When exposed to direct light, their bodies can produce a beautiful rainbow-like iridescence.

• Size & Lifespan:
  They grow to about 2.5 to 3 inches in length and have a typical lifespan of 5 to 8 years in captivity.

• Behavior:
  Glass catfish are diurnal to nocturnal, preferring to hover in the mid-to-upper levels of the tank. They are extremely shy and will become stressed or hide if kept alone or housed with aggressive tankmates.

Tank Setup & Requirements

• Tank Size:
  A minimum of 30 gallons is recommended to accommodate a school comfortably.

• Water Parameters:
  They are quite sensitive to changes in water chemistry, requiring clean, stable water. Aim for:

  • Temperature: 75°F to 80°F (24°C to 27°C)
  • pH: 6.5 to 7.5
  • Soft to moderately hard water

• Aquascaping:
  They thrive in heavily planted tanks with plenty of hiding spots and prefer gentle, diffuse water currents.

Diet

Glass catfish are omnivores and need high-quality, small foods. They naturally consume zooplankton, insect larvae, and tiny crustaceans, so they thrive on a diet of:

• Live or frozen foods like brine shrimp and bloodworms
• High-quality micropellets or finely crushed flake food

Tank Mates

Due to their fragile and timid nature, they are ideal for community tanks filled with other peaceful, small fish. Good companions include:

• Tetras
• Small rasboras
• Dwarf gouramis
• Corydoras

Avoid housing them with large predatory fish or aggressive fin-nippers.