The Glass Catfish are primarily found in Thailand in the rivers south of Isthmus of Kra and the river basins in the Cardamom Mountains in Cambodia. They get their name from their transparent tissue and “flat” or slender bodies. In very flat species of fish reduces the overall potential for light to scatter through their bodies which makes their bodily tissue transparent. While they look really unique, they are not the easiest species to care for in an aquarium. In this blog post, we are going to learn all about the Glass Catfish and what is needed in order to properly keep them in an aquarium.
How Big Do Glass Catfish Get?
On average, this species is reported to have an average maximum length of between 4 to 6 inches. The average length reported in the aquarium hobby of 2.5 inches.
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How Many Glass Catfish Should I Get?
With a maximum size of 6 inches, this fish will need a good amount of space. Also, this is a schooling fish and the overall recommendation is to keep them in a school of at least 5. However, the ideal amount is between 7 to 12. For a full school of 12 glass catfish – without any other tank mates – you are looking at a minimum aquarium size of 72 gallons.
What Can Glass Catfish Live With?
This species does very well with peaceful species such as:
- Swordtails
- Mollies
- Corydora Catfish
- Kuhli Loach
The most important tank mate for this species though, is 7 to 12 of their own. The reason for this is because this species is a mid-water column dweller that feeds on mosquitoes, larvae and zooplankton in the wild. They tend to stay in the river beds and not wander too far from them in their school which they heavily rely on for protection. Check out this video of a fairly large school of them:
Is The Glass Catfish Hardy?
Like all species, if kept in the right conditions in captivity they will thrive. They are known to be highly prone to spinal injuries. So with that said, they are known to be very sensitive to changes in their surroundings. This can spook the glass catfish and result in a spinal injury if they collide with something or if they are handled without care. They also have a specific set of water parameters that will help them thrive which we will get into later. This fish is generally labeled an intermediate fish as far as ease of care goes.
What Do Glass Catfish Eat?
In the wild, this species eats mosquitoes, larvae and zooplankton. In the aquarium, slow, sinking foods and flakes should be fed to them every day. A few times a week, you can also feed them some live or frozen brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworms. This ensures that they get enough of the essential nutrients and protein that they need in order to live a happy and healthy life.
What is The Glass Catfish’s Lifespan?
It has been reported that this species’ average lifespan is between 7 to 8 years. However, this lifespan can only be achieved in the right conditions, water parameters, water quality, environment and diet.
Are Glass Catfish Aggressive?
No, they are a very docile species.
Glass Catfish Tank Size
Depending on how many glass catfish you would like to keep (within the guidelines mentioned above) and their tank mates, will determine the size of the tank that you will need for them. In addition to the species that you will be keeping, the glass catfish needs places to hide. For this, tall plants along the edges of the tank will give them a place to hide while still keeping the rest of the tank open for plenty of swimming room.
Glass Catfish Water Parameters
- Temperature: 75 – 80 F
- KH: 8 to 12
- pH: 6.5 – 7.0
- Water Flow: Moderate
And that’s 9 facts about the The Glass Catfish aka “The Swimming Skeleton”. If you are interested in learning more about other species of marine life, be sure to check out the Fish Facts section of this website.