Kryptopterus minor (Glass catfish)

stibolt · Post by **stibolt** » 16 Feb 2004, 09:15

Hi all.

IÂ´ve read about the Kryptopterus minor (glass catfish) in the "Catfish of the Month" from 1997, but I still have some questions.

Is it very rare, that the real glass catfish is seen in petstores? How can you tell the difference between that and itÂ´s cousin, the false glass catfish?

Are they very delicate or are they more hardy than they look?

The reason I ask this is, obviously, that IÂ´ve thought about buying some for my asian aquarium. I have some loaches in it and a betta splendens)

/Thanx.

Post by **Silurus** » 16 Feb 2004, 10:59

By "real" glass catfish, I suppose you mean K. minor, and by "false" glass catfish, I suppose you mean K. bicirrhis?
I don't think K. bicirrhis was ever imported much in the aquarium trade (if at al)l. As mentioned in the CoTM article, they are bigger fish, but what is not mentioned is that they are also not transparent, but translucent like K. macrocephalus (which is another species imported for the trade).
They are not very delicate, but neither are they hardy fish. Silurids as a whole are sensitive to water conditions and are prone to bacterial infections if water conditions are allowed to deteriorate.

stibolt · Post by **stibolt** » 18 Feb 2004, 08:33

Yep, thatÂ´s what I meant. Okay, well. . I must have mis-read "Catfish of the Month". . I thought that it said that it was difficult to find the "real" glass fish. Well, itÂ´s not always easy to be Danish. .

Taratron · Post by **Taratron** » 28 Feb 2004, 05:42

Obviously theese guys are schooling fish...what size tank would a trio or quartet be comfortable in? Would they get along with, say, pygmy gouramis?

Post by **Silurus** » 28 Feb 2004, 10:05

what size tank would a trio or quartet be comfortable in?

A 20-gallon, and you would be able to fit at least half a dozen.

Would they get along with, say, pygmy gouramis?

Yes.

Taratron · Post by **Taratron** » 28 Feb 2004, 20:49

Silurus, in a 20 gallons long, or tall?

The tank is question would be a tall....is planted, if that would help.

And tankmates would be as follows:
2 banjo cats
1 bristlenose pleco
6 corydoras paletus
4 sparkling gouramis

Post by **Silurus** » 28 Feb 2004, 20:51

Either one is fine, although a 20-gallon long would be better.