TankBud

Borneo glass catfish

Ompok eugeneiatus

FreshwaterFish

Borneo glass catfish (Ompok eugeneiatus)
Zakqary Roy · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
70–82°F
21–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
6.5 in
16.5 cm
Minimum tank
45 gal
170 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Siluridae
Origin
Malaysia, Sunda Islands

Overview

The Borneo glass catfish is a slender, active silurid that patrols open water and shaded margins rather than resting on the floor. It is best left to experienced keepers.

Did you know

The Borneo glass catfish, like other sheatfishes, has almost no dorsal fin. Its anal fin stretches nearly the length of its underside. It ripples that fin in a smooth wave to hover and glide through open water.

Caring for the Borneo glass catfish

Give a group of Borneo glass catfish a tank of at least 45 gal (170 L). Leave open lanes for swimming alongside driftwood, roots and some dense planting. Keep the tank dim, and add floating plants to soften the light so they feel secure. They are prone to jumping, so cover the tank tightly.

Keep the water at 70 to 82°F (21 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5, with gentle to moderate flow. They are sensitive to poor water, so keep it clean and well oxygenated.

Offer sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms and small meaty foods. The Borneo glass catfish is a mild predator that will take small fish and fry, so choose tank mates it cannot swallow.

It is peaceful and happiest in a group, so keep several together for a more settled, natural shoal. It mixes well with calm, similarly sized community fish. There are no established records of it breeding in home aquariums.

Good to know

Ompok eugeneiatus belongs to Siluridae, the sheatfish family. Its body is semi-transparent and faintly iridescent. In the wild it is a nimble, open-water hunter that feeds on small invertebrates and fish.

In the wild

The Borneo glass catfish is found in Malaysia and the Sunda Islands, including Borneo. It lives in soft, often tannin-stained forest rivers and streams with plenty of submerged wood and vegetation.

Common questions

What size tank does a Borneo glass catfish need?

A Borneo glass catfish needs at least 45 gal (170 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Borneo glass catfish need?

A Borneo glass catfish is comfortable at 70–82°F (21–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a Borneo glass catfish eat?

A Borneo glass catfish eats sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms and small meaty foods. It is a mild predator and will also take small fish and fry.

How big does a Borneo glass catfish get?

An adult Borneo glass catfish reaches about 6.5 in (16.5 cm).

Does a Borneo glass catfish need a group?

Yes. A Borneo glass catfish is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

Related species