Glass Catfish
Kryptopterus vitreolus · family Siluridae
Parameters
- Temperature
- 23–26 °C
- pH
- 6–7
- Hardness
- 4–15 °dGH
- Tank volume
- from 120 L
- Maximum size
- up to 8 cm
- Group size
- min 6, ideal 10
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Swimming zone
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Lifespan
- 7–8 years
Description
Transparent catfish — bones and swim bladder are visible. Highly schooling — in groups under 6 they go silent and quickly waste away.
Care
Calm shaded tank with some flow. At least 6 individuals. Sensitive to parameter swings.
Feeding
A predator in the wild. In aquariums — frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, small carnivore pellets.
Compatibility
Compatibility data not yet available.
FAQ
- Why can't glass catfish be kept alone?
- They're obligate schoolers. Lone individuals suffer chronic stress, stop eating, and die within weeks.
Goldie editorial team
Practising aquarists with a combined 30+ years of experience · Biologists and editors, fact-checking against FishBase and Seriously Fish · Every piece is reviewed by a qualified ichthyologist before publication
Scientific board — ichthyologists and veterinarians
Ichthyologists and veterinarians with university degrees · Reference FishBase, Seriously Fish and peer-reviewed literature · Sign every reviewed article with their credentials shown
Sources
- Wikipedia: Kryptopterus vitreolus · Wikipedia · 2026-05-22