Glass Catfish

About

Found drifting through the turbid waters of large rivers, canals, and streams across mainland Southeast Asia, this transparent glass catfish, Kryptopterus geminus, has long been sold in the trade under the name of its close cousin K. cryptopterus. A mix-up that persisted because wild populations were once considered the same species. The two look nearly identical to the casual eye, and the differences come down to subtle head proportions, barbel length, and fin measurements that most hobbyists will never need to worry about. What matters in the aquarium is that this is a peaceful, mid-water schooling catfish with a ghostly, semi-transparent body that makes it genuinely unlike most other freshwater fish. In nature it feeds on fish, invertebrates, and aquatic insects, so very small tankmates are at some risk, but it is not an aggressive species by any measure. It is also somewhat timid, which means boisterous or much larger tankmates will stress it out. A group of four or more is strongly recommended. Lone specimens tend to hide and fade. Peaceful cyprinids, loaches, and similarly sized catfishes make sensible companions. Breeding has not been documented in captivity, though in the wild spawning coincides with the start of the wet season.