Data sheet glass catfish
German name:
glass catfish
Scientific name:
Kryptopterus vitreolus
Origin:
mostly Thailand
Size:
Up to 6.5cm
Aquarium
Length:
at least 100 cm edge length
Contents:
From 180 liters
water values
Temperature:
22°C to 27°C degrees
pH:
4.0 to 7.0
GH:
up to 10°
CH:
6 to 15
Behave
Area:
middle pelvic area
Lining:
Omnivores, mainly live food such as red or black, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, tubifex, water fleas, flake food, frozen food
Behave:
Schooling fish, peaceful, calm
Number:
Group with at least 10 animals, preferably 20 animals
Difficulty level:
Advanced © mikhailg Fotolia.com
Become as a glass catfish animals from different fish species and fish families.
The Indian glass catfish, Kryptopterus bicirrhis, belongs to the catfish family, the Siluridae. Small glass catfish, Kryptopterus minor, is also referred to as Indian glass catfish. Both types can hardly be told apart and are therefore often confused.
The African glass catfish, Physailia pellucida, belongs to the glass catfish family, the Schilbeidae. Physailia pellucida are native to the Upper Nile. They grow up to 10 centimeters. They are peaceful schooling fish for large, densely planted and somewhat dark aquariums.
Also belonging to the Schilbeidae are Eutropiellus debawi and Parailia longifilis, both of which are from the Congo. Eutropiellus debawi grow up to 8 centimeters.
Parailia longifilis grow up to 10 centimeters in size. They are crepuscular. During the day they show a kind of play-dead reflex.
The Schilbeidae include a few other species from the Congo.
General information about Eutropiellus buffei
Kryptopterus Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 2.0 Author: Sonni
Eutropiellus buffei come from Africa. In contrast to the transparent Indian glass catfish, Eutropiellus buffei have black vertical stripes.
Eutropiellus buffei are elegant swimmers. They eat a lot. Half an FD tablet is sometimes swallowed in one go.
The lighting should be dim. During the day they absolutely need cover and dark corners. They only come out of cover when there is food.
They often only come out in the evening when the pool lights are completely off. Then they race around in the tank at a monkey-like speed, looking for food or young fish to eat.
During the day they stand under a plant or even better cover with their tail flapping and wait for darker times.
The animals like softer water, eg about carbonate hardness 4 and total hardness 9 GH.
They are less suitable for community tanks. A community tank should be darkened and can therefore not be well planted.
Indian glass catfish
Kryptopterus minor Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 3.0 Author: Pouzin Olivier
Indian glass catfish, Kryptopterus bicirrhis, originate from back India and the Greater Sunda Islands. They grow up to 10 centimeters, according to other sources 12 to 15 centimeters. The tank should be at least 200 liters.
The aquarium should be well planted and decorated with roots. During the day, Indian glass catfish usually have their permanent shelters. They only shoot out of it when they are fed.
Indian glass catfish should be kept in a small school. care for individual animals. They should not be kept with very lively species. Otherwise there is a risk of not getting enough food. The animals have poor sight and smell. They often wait in the current for food and only notice the food when, for example, they can touch the flakes with their barbels. As a result, they usually come off badly if, for example, there are Helleries or Angelfish in the tank. Indian glass catfish are not sensitive to hard water.
Suitable water values:
- Conductance: 200-250 µS
- Temperature: 26-27°C
Indian glass catfish:
© Lucas Fleischmann
Cardinal fish and glass catfish: