Glass Catfish

Glass Catfish

Kryptopterus vitreolus

Also known as: Ghost Catfish, Phantom Catfish

💧 Freshwater ✌️ Peaceful 🟡 Moderate 🥩 Carnivore Schooling (5+)

Almost completely transparent — you can see its skeleton and organs. Unusual mid-water schooling catfish.

Tank Size

20 gal
minimum (30+ preferred)

Temperature

75–82°F
24–28°C

pH Range

6.5–7.5
water acidity

Max Size

3"
7.6 cm

Lifespan

5–8 years
typical in captivity

Swim Level

Middle
preferred zone

Care Notes

Needs calm water and gentle tank mates. Sensitive to water quality. Keep in groups of 5+.

Feeding

Frozen foods preferred — bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia. May not eat flakes.

Compatible Tank Mates

Neon Tetra 1.5" Cardinal Tetra 2" Rummy Nose Tetra 2" Congo Tetra 3.5" Glowlight Tetra 1.5" Harlequin Rasbora 2" Zebra Danio 2" Bloodfin Tetra 2" Lemon Tetra 1.5" Black Neon Tetra 1.5" Diamond Tetra 2.5" Scissortail Rasbora 3.5"

Use Caution With

Ember Tetra 0.8" Black Skirt Tetra 2.5" Serpae Tetra 1.75" Chili Rasbora 0.7" Celestial Pearl Danio 1" Buenos Aires Tetra 3" Green Neon Tetra 1" Silvertip Tetra 2" Phoenix Rasbora 0.8" Exclamation Point Rasbora 0.7" Colombian Tetra 2.5" Giant Danio 4"

Incompatible With

White Cloud Mountain Minnow 1.5" Oscar 14" Jack Dempsey 10" Convict Cichlid 5" Green Terror 8" Texas Cichlid 12" Pike Cichlid 10" Salvini Cichlid 8" Red Devil 12" Jaguar Cichlid 16" Flowerhorn 12" Midas Cichlid 12"

Check Compatibility

Want to check if Glass Catfish is compatible with a specific fish? Use our compatibility checker to build your complete tank.