The glass guppy gets its name from the fact that its internal organs and spine are clearly visible, as if separated only by a layer of glass. The glass guppy is 3-4 cm long, with an oval, laterally compressed body. This small, exquisite, and unique tropical fish is very popular.
Glass gouramis have two dorsal fins. The anterior dorsal fin is triangular and terminates at the center of the body. The posterior dorsal fin extends directly from the anterior dorsal fin to the end of the caudal peduncle. The anal fin is broad and long, with a blue border, similar to the dorsal fin. Males are golden yellow, while females are silver yellow, and both fins are transparent, but females lack the blue border on their anal and dorsal fins. Both males and females have forked caudal fins.
Glass catfish are gentle and can be kept with other tropical fish. They are adaptable and easy to care for, with no particular requirements for water quality. They can live in both soft and hard water, but prefer slightly acidic, aged water. The ideal water temperature is 16℃～30℃. They are relatively cold-hardy, even tolerating temperatures as low as 8℃. They are gregarious, hiding in vegetation, and prefer to swim and forage in the upper water layers. Adding a small amount of salt to the water will further promote their growth. These fish are not picky eaters, consuming daphnia and insect larvae. They thrive in bright light and should be provided with at least 10 hours of light daily.
Glass catfish are oviparous fish, reaching sexual maturity at 5 months of age and capable of breeding multiple times a year. They are not difficult to breed; the breeding tank should contain several large aquatic plants, such as chrysanthemum grass, or some floating aquatic plants as egg-laying substrate. Glass catfish are highly territorial. During group breeding, males may fight while defining and claiming territory; this can be ignored as it does not cause injury. Once the territory is established, they will quiet down and begin chasing the females to lay eggs. Each fish can lay approximately 150 eggs.
