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Scientific Name Tridentopsis brevis  (Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889)
Common Names Glass Candiru
Dwarf Parasitic Catfish, Glass Parasitic Catfish, Pygmæ-parasitmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Tabatinga, Amazonas, Brazil.
Synonym(s) Tridens brevis, Tridensimilis brevis
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 30mm or 1.2" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Minute species of Catfish, usually actively swimming in the water column, at other times resting on plants or substrate. Tiny barbels visible on close examination (particularly when feeding). Body is remarkably transparent, the organs are enclosed in a silvery sac, although the stomach contents and other areas of the alimentary tract may be visible.
There are two dark pigment spots on the body, one in the humeral area, the other on the caudal peduncle (this spot actually appear to be made up of pigmented skeletal elements as opposed to epidermal pigment).
Sexing Unknown, although females may show ovaries through body wall when gravid.
General Remarks One of the photographed specimens originated in a shipment of Corydoras pygmaeus from Peru.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Amazon River basin.
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Not Evaluated
pH 5.6 - 7.6
Temperature 21.0-30.0°C or 69.8-86°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Large water changes not appreciated, very regular small changes optimal. Strong flow not required.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Small Live Crustaceans, Worms, Insect Larvae taken eagerly. Dry food ignored. Incipient parasitism. User data.
Furniture Not important. Sand or bare base probably best.
Compatibility Complex and variable. No problems with small characins, but there is some evidence that they are opportunistically lepidophagous on slightly larger fish under some circumstances. It has been observed that they will attack large ultra peaceful fish e.g. Doradids. There are no intraspecific compatibility problems observed, a larger group needs to be assembled to gather more information.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences (Series 2) v. 2, pp 54.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There are 6 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2023 Nov 09 12:53 (species record created: 2002 Jan 07 00:00)