Glass Catfish
Kryptopterus vitreolus
Family: Siluridae • Origin: Southeast Asia
Glass Catfish are completely transparent — you can see their organs and skeleton. A fascinating conversation piece in planted tanks.
Min Tank
20 gal
Max Size
5"
Temperature
75-82°F
pH
6.5-7.5
Lifespan
5 years
School Size
5+
Swim Level
middle
Hardness
5-12 dGH
peacefulintermediateomnivoreschooling
Care Tips
- • Completely transparent body
- • Keep in groups of 5+
- • Shy — needs calm environment
- • Sensitive to water quality
- • May take time to accept prepared foods
Feeding: Frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia. May refuse flakes initially.
Compatibility Notes: Shy and delicate. Needs calm tankmates and planted environment. Sensitive to water quality.
Tank Setup & Water Parameters
Tank Requirements
- Minimum Tank Size
- 20 gallons
- Recommended Tank Size
- 30 gallons
- Swimming Level
- middle
- Minimum School Size
- 5+ fish
Water Parameters
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- pH Range
- 6.5–7.5
- Hardness (dGH)
- 5–12
- Water Type
- freshwater
Behavior & Temperament
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Aggression Level
- 1/5
- Schooling
- Yes
- Territorial
- No
- Fin Nipper
- No
- Predatory
- No
- Diet Type
- omnivore
- Growth Rate
- slow
Shy and delicate. Needs calm tankmates and planted environment. Sensitive to water quality.
Breeding
- Breeding Type
- egg layer
- Breeding Difficulty
- very difficult
- Lifespan
- 5 years
Ideal For
20 gallonplanted tankcommunity
Compatible Tank Mates
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Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
70-81°FpH 6-710+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+1.5"
Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
73-84°FpH 5.5-75+ gal
peacefulschooling 8+0.8"
Rummy Nose Tetra
Hemigrammus rhodostomus
75-84°FpH 5.5-720+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+2.5"
Black Neon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
73-81°FpH 5.5-7.510+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+1.6"
Serpae Tetra
Hyphessobrycon eques
72-82°FpH 6-7.520+ gal
semi-aggressiveschooling 6+1.75"
Black Skirt Tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
70-82°FpH 6-7.515+ gal
peacefulschooling 5+3"
Similar Species
Upside Down Catfish
Synodontis nigriventris
72-79°FpH 6.5-7.520+ gal
peacefulschooling 3+4"
Panda Corydoras
Corydoras panda
68-77°FpH 6-7.510+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+2"
Julii Corydoras
Corydoras julii
72-79°FpH 6-7.510+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+2.5"
Sterbai Corydoras
Corydoras sterbai
75-82°FpH 6-7.515+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+2.75"