Rose flame glassfish

Gymnochanda verae

Also known as Vera's glassfish, Rose flame glass fish

FreshwaterFish

Rose flame glassfish (Gymnochanda verae) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
pH: 4.5–6.5
Adult size: 1.2 in (3 cm)
Minimum tank: 11 gal (40 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Blackwater streams of Belitung Island, Indonesia
Family: Ambassidae

Overview

The rose flame glassfish is a blackwater specialist's fish, tiny, transparent and demanding, kept for the display of its red-finned males. It is a peaceful, gregarious species, so keep a group of at least eight to ten; a proper shoal settles them and sets the males showing to one another. They are shy and easily outcompeted, so house them only with very small, calm soft-water fish, or keep a species tank. They want live and frozen micro-foods, especially newly hatched brine shrimp, and rarely touch dry food. A dim, planted blackwater tank of about 40 liters or more suits a group.

In the wild

Gymnochanda verae is found only in the blackwater streams around Gantung on Belitung Island, Indonesia, soft and acidic water stained dark by peat. Recreate it with a dimly lit, planted tank, leaf litter and wood for tannins, very low mineral content and gentle flow. Keep it warm at 24 to 28 degrees Celsius and acidic, roughly pH 4.5 to 6.5. Stable water and mature blackwater conditions are essential for this fragile fish.

Good to know

Gymnochanda verae is a glassperch of the Ambassidae, described in 2011 and reaching about 3 centimeters. It is strongly sexually dimorphic: males carry broad red anal and dorsal fins with red tail lobes, the elongated rays joined by membrane into flags, while females stay plain and clear. Like others in the genus it is nearly scaleless and transparent. Captive breeding is difficult.

Did you know

Its entire known range is a handful of streams on one Indonesian island, so aquarium-bred fish may end up mattering for the survival of a species with almost nowhere else to live.

Tank mates

Rose flame glassfish is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.