Breeding Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus Bicirrhis) In The Aquarium

Location

This freshwater species lives in coastal areas of turbit and fast-flowing rivers in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Body description

Colour of the body is glassy-transparent. You can see all bones, internal organs and also stomach content. The species has its internal organs just behind rthe head. The body of the fish can opalescence when they are healthy and you have proper lighting in the aquarium. The species has long barbels. All fins are clear. The anal fin starts behind the head of the fish and it ends at the tail. There is almost no sexual dimorphism and sex of the fish is difficult to distinguish. Female is a bit thicker in the ventral parts compared to male.

Temperament and behaviour

This is shoal species. Fish prefers to live in a group of 6 minimum. If the group is smaller then fish are stressed, they stop to eat and eventually they die. This is peaceful species. It prefers to swim at the top and in the middle water level. These fish usually stay almost motionless in an inclined position with their heads facing up under the leaves or floating plants. Their tails are constantly in motion. They often swim/stay also in stream of the water flowing from filtration system. This species is sensitive to chemicals and medicines added to the water. It does not have scales. The fish are stressed or sick when colour of their body is milky.

Aquarium decoration

This species prefers a spacious tank. Aquarium should have plants with wide leaves, floating plants, dimmed light, filtration system with strong water flow. You may also add peat to the filtration system. The fish are sensitive to changes of the water parameters.

Breeding

This is an oviparous species but it breeds occasionally in aquarium. You can observe that group of the fish suddenly increased by several young. This species mainly is imported.