Glass catfish care

Water temperature

75–80°F

Keep glass catfish at 75–80°F with a pH of 6.5–7.5, in a tank of at least 30 gallons. Good tank mates include bettas, guppies, kuhli loaches.

Shy schooler that hides when kept in small numbers.

Kryptopterus vitreolus

pH

6.5–7.5

Minimum tank

30 gal

Adult size

3.0 in

Temperament

Peaceful

Group

Groups of 6+

Lifespan

7–8 years

Swims at

Middle

Diet

Carnivore

Best tank mates

• BettaYes
• GuppyYes
• Kuhli loachYes
• CorydorasYes
• AngelfishYes
• Honey gouramiYes
• Bristlenose plecoYes
• Rainbow sharkYes
• Bolivian ramYes
• Yoyo loachYes
• KribensisYes
• Dwarf gouramiYes

Full glass catfish tank mate chart: 68 yes, 16 with care, 14 no

Glass catfish water compared

Fish to keep away from glass catfish

• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); glass catfish need 75–80°F. No temperature suits both.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); glass catfish need 75–80°F. No temperature suits both.
• Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful glass catfish.
• Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches glass catfish do.
• Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches glass catfish do.
• Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches glass catfish do.
• African cichlid African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful glass catfish.
• Koi Koi are coldwater animals (59–77°F); glass catfish need 75–80°F. They overlap only at 75–77°F, the edge of both ranges.

More catfish and plecos

• Corydoras72–79°F
• Bristlenose pleco73–81°F
• Pictus catfish72–79°F
• Otocinclus72–79°F
• Panda cory68–77°F
• Common pleco72–86°F
• Upside down catfish72–79°F
• Zebra pleco79–88°F