Glass catfish
Kryptopterus vitreolus
Also known as Asian Glass Cat
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 70–79°F
- 21–26°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.0
- Adult size
- 2.8 in
- 7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 30 gal
- 115 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Siluridae
- Origin
- Thailand
Overview
The glass catfish is a small, peaceful schooling catfish for the middle of a calm community tank. It is an easy fish to keep.
Did you know
The glass catfish holds a slight head-up, tail-down posture while it hovers in place, almost suspended in the water. Under angled light, you can see flashes of color refracted through its clear body.
Caring for the glass catfish
Give glass catfish a planted tank of at least 30 gal (115 L), with some open swimming space and subdued lighting. Driftwood and tannins help them settle in and feel secure. They hang in the middle of the water column, often facing into the flow, so give them a soft current.
Keep the water at 70 to 79°F (21 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Feed small live and frozen foods such as daphnia and baby brine shrimp, along with fine micro pellets.
Glass catfish are true schooling fish, so keep at least six. A group of eight or more looks much better and keeps them calm. A lone fish or a small group will hide, stress and often waste away.
They are peaceful with other calm fish. Breeding them in home aquariums is essentially undocumented.
Good to know
Kryptopterus vitreolus is a catfish in the family Siluridae, also sold as the Asian glass cat. Its transparent body is real, not a trick of the light. The spine and internal organs show through the flesh. Most glass catfish in the trade are wild caught.
In the wild
Glass catfish come from slow rivers and forest streams in Thailand. The water there is soft, slightly acidic and shaded, with gentle flow.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The glass catfish is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Panama hoplo
Hoplosternum punctatum
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Blackwing hatchetfish
Carnegiella marthae
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Red lizard whiptail
Rineloricaria lanceolata
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a glass catfish need?
A glass catfish needs at least 30 gal (115 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a glass catfish need?
A glass catfish is comfortable at 70–79°F (21–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.0.
What does a glass catfish eat?
A glass catfish eats small live and frozen foods, such as daphnia and baby brine shrimp. It also takes fine micro pellets.
How big does a glass catfish get?
An adult glass catfish reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).
Does a glass catfish need a group?
Yes. A glass catfish is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
3.5 in (9 cm)36 gal (135 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)Striped glass catfish
Kryptopterus macrocephalus
3.5 in (9 cm) · 36 gal (135 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)26 gal (100 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)True glass catfish
Kryptopterus bicirrhis
5.9 in (15 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)119 gal (450 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Mekong glass sheatfish
Kryptopterus limpok
11.8 in (30 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
6.5 in (16.5 cm)45 gal (170 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)Borneo glass catfish
Ompok eugeneiatus
6.5 in (16.5 cm) · 45 gal (170 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)106 gal (400 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Ompok catfish
Ompok pabda
11.8 in (30 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
31.5 in (80 cm)238 gal (900 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Blue neon sheatfish
Belodontichthys dinema
31.5 in (80 cm) · 238 gal (900 L)