Quick Overview of the Mesmerizing Glass Catfish
The Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus vitreolus), native to the slow-moving, shaded river systems and blackwater streams of Thailand, is an absolute showstopper in any community aquarium. True to their name, they lack traditional skin pigments, possessing a completely clear, glass-like body that allows you to see their entire skeleton and shimmering silver organ sac in real-time. Growing to an elegant 3 inches, they sport long, delicate whiskers (barbels) protruding from their mouths, which they use to navigate through the water. They are incredibly unique compared to other catfish—instead of scavenging on the substrate, they spend their days hovering gracefully in mid-water, facing directly into the filter current.
Tank Requirements for Your Glass Catfish Setup
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Care Level: Intermediate (Requires a mature, fully cycled aquarium with pristine water parameters)
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Minimum Tank Size: 20 to 30 Gallons (Because they are strictly social pack animals, they must be kept in schools of 6 or more; keeping them alone will cause extreme stress, leading to illness)
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Water Temperature: 24°C to 28°C (Perfectly matched to our warm tropical Bacolod climate)
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Temperament: Extremely Peaceful and Timid (An excellent resident for gentle community tanks; safe with dwarf shrimp, small tetras, rasboras, and corydoras)
Local Care Tips for Your Glass Catfish School
Bacolod Hobbyist Tip: Glass Catfish are incredibly sensitive to high stress levels and shifts in water chemistry. If they are stressed, kept in a tank with zero hiding spots, or subjected to high spikes in nitrate, their crystal-clear bodies will actually start turning a cloudy, milky white!
To keep them perfectly transparent and thriving like a pro here in Bacolod, house them in an established tank with a dark background, a gentle to moderate filter current, and plenty of tall live plants (like Amazon Swords or Vallisneria) to provide shady canopy areas.
Additionally, because they are timid mid-water filter feeders, they will rarely or never drop down to the substrate to search for food. They require slow-sinking or floating items that pass directly in front of them in the water column. They are enthusiastic carnivores that absolutely love premium frozen bloodworms, live baby brine shrimp, and high-quality micro-pellets. Avoid housing them with boisterous, hyper-aggressive eaters like large Barbs or Cichlids that might easily outcompete or scare them.
Drop by our Bacolod pet shop today to pick up premium frozen fish foods, water testing kits, lush aquarium plants, and a breathtaking, healthy school of Glass Catfish!
