Breeding Indian Glassy Fish (Parambassis Ranga) In The Aquarium

Location

This species lives in brackish and freshwater, slow-moving and standing reservoirs in India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Pakistan, Cambodia, Burma, Nepal and Malaysia. This species also is known by the Latin name Pseudambassis ranga.

Body description

Body of the fish is laterally compressed. Colour of the body is silvery-transparent with delicate gold shine. You can see structure of bones and internal organs of the fish. There is also neon color variants of this fish. These variants are artificially colored – a pigment is injected directly into the fish skin. These practices are harmful for the fish. This species has interesting two-pieces dorsal fin and wide the anal fin. Male is more colourful than female. His dorsal and anal fins have blue border.

Temperament and behaviour

This is very shy and peaceful species. Fish prefers to live in a group of 6 minimum and remember that more than better. Also their confidence is higher when they are in bigger group. Males are a bit territorial during the spawning season. You should keep these fish with similar size and temperament species e.g. botias, gupies, mollies.

Aquarium decoration

The aquarium should include a lot of plants, hiding-places among roots, stones, rocks, dark substrate, dimmed light, floating plants, space to swim. You should not add the sea salt to water if originally the fish were in fresh water. You should ask the seller if they are in salty or fresh water before buying.

Breeding

This is an oviparous species. It spawns during the rainy season. You should feed them with plenty of live food. When males are more colourful and females are thicker you can stimulate the fish to breed through bigger evening partial water changes on warmer water and exposure the tank to direct sunlight. The fish usually spawn in the morning. Female lays up to 200 eggs among plants. Male protects his territory when female lays the roe. The eggs are sensitive to fungal infections. You may preventive add a few drops of methylene blue. The eggs hatch after 1 day. The fry starts to swim 3-4 days later. The fry does not actively seeks for the food. It eats only what it has around them. You should feed them often and you need to keep the water clean.