Glass catfish
Kryptopterus vitreolus
A see-through catfish whose skeleton shows through the body; schools in midwater and fades quickly without a group of its own kind.
Key facts
- Body length
- 2.6 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 26 gallons
- Group
- 6+
- Temperament
- Peaceful, shy
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Micro pellets, frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp
- Origin
- Peninsular Thailand and the Cardamom Mountains
- Hardier than53%
- Bigger than39%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Glass catfish tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishAngelfish eats small fish: Glass catfish.Risky
- Tiger barbBoisterous barbs stress glass catfish.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Glass catfish.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Glass catfish.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Glass catfish.Risky
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat young or small Glass catfish; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Glass catfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Glass catfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Glass catfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- Jewel cichlidJewel cichlid can eat Glass catfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Glass catfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
- SeverumSeverum can eat Glass catfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for glass catfish: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 6.5 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 4.12 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 1.99 BU
- Min. water
- 81 L net
- Min. footprint
- 90 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 6+ (best 10)
- Swims in
- middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- micropredator
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Care notes
Glass catfish come from slow and still waters of peninsular Thailand and the Cardamom Mountains. They hang together in the middle of the tank rather than on the bottom, and are often sold under older names like K. bicirrhis.
Keep six or more in at least a 20 gallon tank with a 36-inch footprint, dimmed light and floating plants. They are shy, so choose only peaceful tank mates.
Questions
What size tank does a glass catfish need?
At least 26 gallons (81 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 2.6 inches without fins.
How many glass catfish should be kept together?
Keep at least 6, ideally 10 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do glass catfish need?
68–79 °F, pH 4–7 and 1–10 dGH. Glass catfish come from Peninsular Thailand and the Cardamom Mountains.
How long do glass catfish live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with glass catfish?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.