Moderate

Glass Catfish

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Kryptopterus vitreolus

Complete Glass Catfish care guide covering carnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 30 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Moderate.

Glass Catfish

Quick Answer

Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus vitreolus) is a fascinating, almost completely transparent fish from Southeast Asia. It requires a minimum 30 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 6.5 - 7.5 and temperature range of 24-28°C. This carnivore occupies the middle zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus vitreolus) is a fascinating, almost completely transparent fish from Southeast Asia. You can see its backbone and internal organs.

Setup

A 30-gallon or longer tank with dense planting, dark substrate, and dim lighting. They need calm, well-filtered water with gentle flow. A tight lid is needed.

Feeding

Carnivorous; prefers live/frozen foods: brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, and mosquito larvae. Can be trained to accept small sinking pellets.

Compatibility

Peaceful and shy. Keep in groups of 6+. Tankmates must be gentle and not outcompete them for food: small tetras, rasboras, Corydoras.

Tank Position
Middle
Water Temp
24-28°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
6.5 - 7.5

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Carnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

African Leaf Fish Care Guide: Diet & Tank Mates semanticSimilarity Angelfish Care Guide: Tank Size & Diet | The Aquarium Calculators semanticSimilarity Badis Care Guide: Tank Size & Compatibility semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Glass Catfish should be kept together?
Maintain a minimum school of 6 to 8 individuals in a tank of at least 30 gallons (113 liters) with a footprint of 36x12 inches (90x30 cm). Glass catfish (Kryptopterus vitreolus) are very timid shoalers; groups under 6 cause chronic stress, cessation of feeding, and translucent body becomes opaque. A school of 10+ displays natural midwater schooling and regains transparency. Provide dim lighting, dark background, and floating plants to diffuse light. Avoid loud noises and sudden movements near the tank. Keep with peaceful nano fish (tetras, rasboras); aggressive tank mates cause stress.
What are the exact water parameters for Glass Catfish?
Target pH 6.5 - 7.5, General Hardness 3 - 10 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 2 - 8 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 80 - 200 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 160 - 400 μS/cm, and temperature 75°F - 82°F (24°C - 28°C). They are sensitive to low oxygen and water quality shifts; maintain nitrates below 10 ppm with weekly 20% water changes. Use a sponge filter or gentle HOB; strong currents stress them. Add driftwood and Indian almond leaves to mimic blackwater. Ammonia and nitrite must be 0 ppm; any detectable level causes opacity and death. Hardness below 2 dGH causes clamped fins.
What is the dietary and medication protocol for Glass Catfish?
They are midwater carnivores requiring 50% protein, 15% fat, 35% plant matter. Feed live or frozen baby brine shrimp, daphnia, glass worms, bloodworms, and small slow-sinking micro-pellets (0.5 mm) twice daily. They ignore dry flakes; use a feeding ring to concentrate food. They are filter-feeders that appreciate suspended particles. Medication alert: Highly sensitive to copper (0.1 mg/L lethal) and formalin. Use malachite green at quarter dose (0.025 mg/L). Praziquantel is safe. Avoid salt (tolerance <2 ppt). Quarantine with metronidazole at half-strength. They are prone to ich; treat with herbal remedies.
How to breed Glass Catfish in captivity?
Breeding is rare and requires very soft, acidic water and dim lighting. Condition a group of 8-10 with live baby brine shrimp and blackworms for 4 weeks. Set up a 20-gallon (75 liter) breeding tank with 8 inches (20 cm) of RO water (pH 6.0, 1 dGH, 80°F/27°C), a spawning mop, and java moss. Cover all sides to create total darkness except for a single dim LED. Spawning occurs at night; female releases 300-500 eggs. Remove parents immediately. Eggs hatch in 24-36 hours. Fry are 0.08 inches (2 mm); require green water (Nannochloropsis) for 7 days, then paramecium, then baby brine shrimp. Extremely challenging.

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