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Scientific Name Kryptopterus vitreolus  Ng & Kottelat, 2013
Common Names Glass Catfish
Asian Glass Catfish, Indischer Glaswels (Germany), Indisk Glasmal (Sweden), Phantom Catfish, Thai-glasmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Amphoe Khao Saming, That Province, Thailand.
Pronunciation Cry top ter russ. - vih TREE oh luss.
Etymology Kryptopterus: From the Greek kryptos, meaning hidden and pteryx, meaning fin; in reference to the reduced or absent dorsal fin of this group of fishes. From the diminutive form of the Latin adjective vitreus, meaning of glass, in reference to the transparent appearance of this species in life (which gives this species its common name of glass catfish).
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 80mm or 3.1" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Sometimes - the African Glass Cat, Parailia pellucida - is labelled as the Glass Cat, so always keep your eyes peeled when you look at a tank of these fish for sale. We have labelled this fish with a scientific name different from that you find in most hobbyist books. It appears that the glass catfish has been misidentified for a long time now as Kryptopterus bicirrhis, this fish grows much larger (up to 245mm) and has more rays in its anal fin. It is quite possible that, at some point in the last 30 years or so, K. bicirrhis was the fish imported into the aquatic trade as the Glass Catfish.
Sexing Unknown
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Known from the short, coastal drainages in peninsular Thailand debouching into the Gulf of Thailand south of the Isthmus of Kra (from about 8°38'N to 6°2'N), as well as similar rivers draining the southeastern face of the Khao Banthat (Cardamom) Mountains in southeastern Thailand.
Thailand Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2019.
pH 5.5 - 6.5
Temperature 21.0-26.0°C or 69.8-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Slow moving water providing areas of current and areas of still water. This fish rests in still water and stalks in gentle current.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Will usually take prepared foods especially if moved by a current. Likes live brine shrimp and larger established fish relish bloodworm. User data.
Furniture Plants are necessary to make this fish feel at home. Floating plants that diffuse overhead light help but are not mandatory. Open swimming space is required, as this fish favours swimming freely at feeding.
Compatibility Peaceful, will eat very small fry, but otherwise harmless.
Suggested Tankmates Keep in a shoal of at least four but preferably six or more individuals. Such a shoal of glass catfish will do well with small tetras, rasboras or danios. Provided its tankmates are not too boisterous this fish will do well in well planted community aquaria.
Breeding Little is known about the specifics of reproduction, appears to be an indiscriminate egg scatterer. See Shane's World article. .
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Zootaxa 3630 (no. 2), pp 309, Figs. 1-2.
Registered Keepers There is but a single registered keeper, view all "my fish" data.
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Spotters Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars!
There are 9 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2020 Aug 08 14:21 (species record created: 2001 Apr 13 00:00)