Why is my glass catfish turning white?

A healthy glass catfish is entirely transparent. If the flesh begins to turn cloudy, milky, or opaque white, it is a severe sign of stress, poor water quality, disease, or old age. Check your water parameters immediately.

How many glass catfish should I keep together?

You should keep an absolute minimum of six individuals. They are an obligate schooling species and will become highly stressed, lethargic, and susceptible to disease if kept in smaller numbers.

Will glass catfish eat my aquarium shrimp?

They are generally safe with adult dwarf shrimp (like Cherry Shrimp) and larger Amano Shrimp. However, as micropredators, they will happily eat any tiny, newly hatched shrimplets they can fit into their mouths.

Why do my glass catfish stay in one spot all day?

This is their natural behaviour. In the wild, they face into the water current and swim in place, waiting for the flow to carry small aquatic insects and zooplankton directly to them.

Do glass catfish need a planted aquarium?

While they do not eat plants, a planted tank is highly recommended. The vegetation provides essential cover and shade, which reduces their stress and encourages them to school openly rather than hiding constantly.

FreshwaterTropicalIntermediate

Glass Catfish

Kryptopterus vitreolus

A striking, completely transparent schooling catfish from Thailand that brings a unique, ghostly presence to peaceful community aquariums.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 24 – 28 °C
pH range: 6 – 7
Hardness: 4 – 10 dGH
Adult size: 6 – 8 cm
Standard 100L community tank: 100 litres+
Lifespan: 5 – 8 years
Diet: Carnivorous micropredator; requires small live and frozen foods (e.g., daphnia, bloodworms, brine shrimp) and high-quality crushed flakes or micropellets.
Water flow: Moderate
Preferred setup: Well-planted with open mid-water swimming spaces, shaded areas, and moderate water movement.

About the Glass Catfish

The Glass Catfish is one of the most visually extraordinary species available in the hobby. Its flesh is completely transparent, allowing a clear view of its spine, ribs, and internal organs, which are housed in a small silver sac just behind the head. For decades, this species was misidentified in the aquarium trade as Kryptopterus bicirrhis or K. minor, until it was formally described as K. vitreolus in 2013.

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Is it right for your tank?

Check Glass Catfish against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Glass Catfish comes from

Native range

Southeast Asia, Chao Phraya basin, Bang Pakong basin

Countries / regions

Thailand

Habitat

Slow to moderate flowing rivers, streams, and flooded forests, often residing in turbid or tannin-stained waters hiding amongst submerged roots.

Endemic to Thailand, specifically rivers draining into the Gulf of Thailand.

Similar species

African Glass Catfish
Parailia pellucida
Ompok Catfish
Ompok bimaculatus

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Harlequin Rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Peaceful, occupies different swimming zones, and shares similar Southeast Asian water parameter requirements.
Great
Kuhli Loach
Pangio kuhlii
Excellent peaceful bottom dwellers that will not bother the mid-water schooling catfish.
Great
Amano Shrimp
Caridina multidentata
Too large to be eaten by glass catfish and perfectly safe in the same planted environment.
Great
Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
Adult angelfish can be boisterous and may intimidate or outcompete the timid glass catfish for food.
Compatible with caution
Tiger Barb
Puntigrus tetrazona
Known fin-nippers that will cause severe stress to the delicate and defenceless glass catfish.
Not recommended

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