With their nearly transparent bodies, glass catfish are some of the most unique and stunning freshwater fish available in the aquarium trade. Their see-through appearance allows you to see their internal organs and skeletal structures, making them constant sources of fascination. Taking proper care of these shy yet captivating fish is extremely rewarding. This comprehensive care guide covers everything you need to know about glass catfish care.
Overview of Glass Catfish
Glass catfish belong to the Kryptopterus genus and the minor species. They are also known as ghost catfish or phantom catfish. As their name suggests, they have transparent bodies that lack pigmentation. Their internal tissues, bones, and organs are visible through their skin in juvenile to adult stages. Native to fast-flowing waters of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, these fish inhabit shallow streams and rivers with sandy substrates and abundant vegetation. Their translucency provides camouflage in their natural environment.
In the aquarium trade, ghost catfish are generally peaceful community fish ideal for seasoned aquarists. With sensitive skin devoid of scales, they require pristine water conditions. While mostly nocturnal, their unique appearance puts them in high demand.
Size of Glass Catfish
In most home aquariums, glass catfish grow up to 5-6 inches at maturity. Selective breeding has produced miniature variants that max out at 3 inches. With good genetics, proper feeding and excellent care, these fish can potentially reach 8 inches in length.
Male and female glass catfish are very similar in appearance. Females tend to be slightly broader in body shape for carrying eggs. Outside of the spawning period, even experienced aquarists may find it challenging to determine the gender of these fish.
Glass Catfish Diet In Captivity
In their wild habitat, Kryptopterus minor are specialized micropredators feeding mainly on small crustaceans like copepods and cladocerans. They have also been observed eating insect larvae. Replicating such a naturalistic diet in home aquariums can be difficult. However, you can feed them substitutes like:
– Frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms, brine shrimp, mysis and daphnia
– High quality flakes and micro pellets
– Live or hatched brine shrimp and blackworms
– Chopped seafood like shrimp and mussel meat
For variety, you can supplement their mainstays with spirulina powder and other herbivore preparations a few times a week. Feed juveniles and young catfish 2-3 small meals daily. Adults only need feeding once daily. Avoid overfeeding as excess food will foul the water.
Glass Catfish Tank Setup
Given their small size, glass catfish adapt well to nano aquariums of 10 gallons or larger. That said, a longer tank is better to accommodate their active swimming style. A 20 gallon long aquarium outfitted with plenty of hiding spots works nicely for a small school of 6-8 individuals.
Use a quality substrate like fine gravel or sand at least 1.5 to 2 inches deep. Natural decor like smooth river rocks, twisted roots and leaf litter enhances aesthetics. Live or silk plants provide security through dense thickets – let them grow emergent for increased cover. A roomy glass catfish tank has plenty of open swimming space too.
Though typically tolerant of a wide temperature range, maintain your tank water between 74-82°F. Warmer conditions accelerate metabolism and should be accompanied by more frequent feedings. Install an efficient filtration system and perform weekly 25% water changes. Keep nitrates below 20 ppm and pH between 6-7.5 for healthy fish.
Adding aquatic mosses like Java moss helps maintain high water quality. The plants assimilate waste nutrients while moss clumps give supplemental hiding areas. Purigen filter media prevents discoloration and clarity loss from organics accumulation. Keep tank lighting low with floating plants to curb algae overgrowth.
Tank Mates for Glass Catfish
Shy and reclusive fish by nature, glass catfish appreciate tank mates with similar peaceful temperaments. Good options include:
– Small tetra species like ember tetras, green neons
– Micro rasboras such as chili and Phoenix rasboras
– Other nano schoolers like Boraras brigittae
– Cherry barbs, white cloud mountain minnows
– Small danio species, some gouramis and dwarf cichlids
– Shrimps and snails are great clean-up crew additions
Avoid aggressive tankmates that may compromise health or water conditions. Slow-swimming long-finned tankmates also do not mix well with constantly-moving glass catfish. Introduce tankmates gradually over several days and observe everyone’s behavior.
Acclimating Ghost Catfish
When adding glass catfish to your tank, follow the standard tropical fish acclimation procedure. After transport, allow the sealed bag to float in the tank, equalizing temperatures over 30-60 minutes. Every few minutes, add half a cup of tank water to the bag. Finally, release your ghost catfish into the setup using a net. Turn off lights, allowing them to settle overnight before feeding. Observe that all individuals are actively swimming within a few days.
Care Guide and Lifespan
Caring for glass catfish revolves around maintaining excellent, stable water parameters. Test pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates levels every week. At the first signs of deterioration, promptly run carbon filtration and perform water changes. Deep vacuum gravel to remove organic waste buildup. Wipe down equipment to prevent algae overgrowth.
With high sensitivity levels, ghost catfish are prone to skin flukes, parasitic infections and fungus. Quarantine new introductions for at least 2 weeks. Minimize stress by keeping only one species in the tank and providing ample broken sightlines. Limit direct handling of glass catfish whenever possible.
Provided with clean water and a balanced, nourishing diet, glass catfish enjoy lifespans extending 5 years or longer. Select tank-bred specimens from reputable stores for hardiness. Though challenging, their special transparency makes glass catfish truly rewarding aquarium residents if given proper care.
