TankBud

Siamese glassfish

Parambassis siamensis

Also known as Thai glassfish, Siamese glass fish

FreshwaterFish

Siamese glassfish (Parambassis siamensis)
(c) Abu Hamas, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
21 gal
80 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Ambassidae
Origin
Chao Phraya and Mekong basins, Southeast Asia

Overview

The Siamese glassfish is a see-through schooling fish for the middle of a peaceful community tank. It is hardier and more forgiving than the tiny blackwater glassfish, though still a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

Despite the old belief that all glassfish need brackish water, the Siamese glassfish is strictly a freshwater fish.

Caring for the Siamese glassfish

Keep Siamese glassfish in a group of at least six, since they fail when kept singly or in pairs. With a dozen, the group becomes a display of animated glass. Give them a mature, densely planted tank of 21 gal (80 L) or more, with open midwater to shoal in.

They prefer dim light, so add floating plants and a dark substrate, and keep the flow gentle. Keep the water at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Never add salt, which does more harm than good.

Feed small foods such as frozen brine shrimp, bloodworm and daphnia. Dry flakes and micro-pellets work once it learns to take them. The Siamese glassfish is easygoing and peaceful, so keep it with other calm, similarly small fish. Egg-scattering spawning has been reported, though rearing the fry is challenging.

Good to know

Parambassis siamensis is a glassfish of the family Ambassidae, with the clear, colorless body typical of the group. Its skeleton, swim bladder and gut show through the flanks in life.

In the wild

The Siamese glassfish lives in the slow lowland rivers, canals and floodplains of the Mekong, Mae Klong and Chao Phraya basins in Southeast Asia.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Siamese glassfish 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Siamese glassfish need?

A Siamese glassfish needs at least 21 gal (80 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Siamese glassfish need?

A Siamese glassfish is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a Siamese glassfish eat?

A Siamese glassfish eats small foods such as frozen brine shrimp, bloodworm and daphnia. It takes dry flakes and micro-pellets once it learns to.

How big does a Siamese glassfish get?

An adult Siamese glassfish reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

Does a Siamese glassfish need a group?

Yes. A Siamese glassfish is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does a Siamese glassfish breed?

Siamese glassfish have been reported to spawn by scattering eggs. Rearing the fry is challenging.

Related species