Glass Catfish

[TBar87]

My wife and i was at the LFS the other day and she saw some glass catfish. And this was actually the first time ive seen any kind of glass type fish that was not "painted". She was wondering if we could add them to our tank and i told her i dont have any idea so here i am.....

We have a 29 Gal. tank that is currently stocked with:

10 neon tetras
3 guppies
4 platys (+1 fry)
1 cory cat
2 chinese algae eaters

Will the glass catfish get along in my community?

Thanks,

Todd

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Yeah, they'd be good. They do need to be groups though and like current. You could also do with at least 3 more corries.

 

[TBar87]

If i add say 3 glass catfish and 2 or 3 more corys would i still be ok for the size of the tank that i have?

Thanks,

Todd

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Oh, forgot to mention that glass cats need to be in even groups so at least 4. They easily get lonley and if there were 3, one might be left alone.

It's say you'd be ok, neither are big waste producers. How are your nitrate levels? Do they rise lots between changes and do your changed cover the rise?

 

[CFC]

One word of warning is that they will feast on any fry from the guppies or platties.

 

[fish_keeper2]

sorry to steal the topic but ive been looking in to these guys. i was wondering if i could keep 5 of them in my 29 gal tank with 1 angel fish, 7 neons, 7 glo lites, 3 ottos, and 5 corries. also is there anything special i might need to know about them?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Yeah, they should be in even groups and like current. They are quite sensitive and like bloodworm (IME).

As for if you can have them, check that your water changes are covering the rise in nitrate between changes. IMO that is the best indicator of being overstocked, under filtered or maintained.

If all is well then go ahead, I don't think you are overcrowded (as in for space, not water condition) but only you can see the tank in action to judge that.

 

[The-Wolf]

I find it odd that no one has asked what species of glass cat this topic is about
if we are talking Kryptopterus bicirrhis Glass catfish then they have the potential to reach 6", if it is Kryptopterus minor they they only reach 4"

if however it is one of the other "glass catfish" that are sold like Eutropiellus debauwi the size will only be 3"

So my question to the OP is, what species are you looking at?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Ooops!! I have only ever seen one kind so never think of the others.

Bad Cheese Specialist! Just as well we have you here to keep us right, Wolfie Woo Woo.

 

[fish_keeper2]

hey wolf how do i tell the different species apart? ive only known of one type....not sure which one they have but my lfs says they grow to 6 inches.

 

[The-Wolf]

hey wolf how do i tell the different species apart? ive only known of one type....not sure which one they have but my lfs says they grow to 6 inches.

The most commonly sold glass catfish is Kryptopterus bicirrhis and most likly that is what you have
I just wanted topoint out tha there are several species that lfs' lable a glass catfish and we should not assume this is what is being asked about. (oh how I dispise common names )

 

[fish_keeper2]

thanks. will my tank be over stocked with 4 of those guys. its a 29 gal and final stocking plan would be 1 angel, 7 neons, 7 glo lites, 5 corries, 3 ottos, and 4 glass cats.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

id reccomend more than 4, preferably at least 6. They are quite nervous and antisocial (even more when kept in a group of 4) The more the better actually. They dont produce much waste too. Feeding can get tricky though, they much rather prefer livefoods, but can be switched to frozen or freeze dried, and even prepared foods. (though its tough to get them to take prepared). The frozen/FD/prepared foods must be moving by a current or they wont be eaten, the same methods are used for bumble bee gobies. As stated before they like currents and thick dense areas of live plants as they like to stay under large leaves of java fern and things of the like.

Theres also another glass fish, Parambassis Ranga (among other similar species). They are also clear like glass catfish and a tad more social. Many people think the are barckish fish, which is true but in the wild they spend a lot more time in acidic FW than brackish, and can very comfortably never be exposed to brackish waters and thrive in home aquariums under these conditions. IMHO id take Parambassis Ranga for your tank instead of k. minor, though cases can be made for both.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

have you purchased them yet?