Glass Catfish – Kryptopterus minor

The Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus minor) is an unusual looking catfish in that it is almost completely transparent and its body is shaped much differently than most other catfish. The body is long and laterally compressed. The Glass Catfish has no dorsal fin, and the ventral fin stretches the length of the body from the belly to the tail. It has two long barbels extending from the mouth.

Glass cats are timid schooling fish, and must be kept in groups of at least six fish in order for them to feel secure. They rarely do well when kept in small groups or singly, as such a situation is very stressful. These fish benefit from having a heavily planted environment because the plants provide shelter.

Glass cats are not strong swimmers, and so should not be kept in tanks with high currents. Glass cats are also very sensitive to water quality, and will succumb to disease quickly if the water is not kept clean. It is important to do small frequent water changes in order to keep these fish healthy.