# Glass Catfish (*Kryptopterus vitreolus Ng &*)

Glass Catfish are unique fish with transparent bodies that make them look like glass. They are peaceful swimmers and enjoy being in groups. Their see-through appearance helps them blend in with their surroundings.

- **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Freshwater
- **Also known as:** Ghost Catfish, Phantom Catfish

![Glass Catfish](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426386/objects/6121.jpg)

## Appearance

The Glass Catfish is famously transparent, allowing you to see its internal organs, spine, and tiny bones. Its body has no scales, just a silvery sheen over its head and a few delicate, almost invisible fins. This unique appearance makes it stand out from other fish.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Actinopterygii
- **Order:** Siluriformes
- **Family:** Siluridae
- **Genus:** Kryptopterus

## Interesting facts

- Their swim bladder is the \*only\* part of them that isn't see-through!
- These fish have almost no pigment, meaning very little color at all!
- When scared, they can become completely still, looking like a piece of glass!
- You can see their tiny heart beating right inside their clear chest!

## Special abilities

- **Living Invisibility Cloak:** Glass Catfish can become almost invisible in water because their body is clear, helping them hide from both predators and prey.
- **Silent Seeker Whiskers:** Glass Catfish has two long, sensitive barbels near its mouth that help it find food by sensing vibrations and smells in dark or murky water.
- **Quick Camouflage:** Glass Catfish can quickly blend into its watery surroundings by orienting its body to reflect light, making it difficult for other animals to spot.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 6-7 cm
- **Weight:** 0.001-0.005 kg
- **Lifespan:** 6-8 years
- **Swim Speed:** 1.5 km/h
- **Maximum Depth:** 3 m
- **Water Type:** Freshwater

## Diet & Feeding

They are tiny hunters, mostly eating small bugs and critters floating in the water.

- **Primary Foods:** insect larvae, small crustaceans, zooplankton
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Northern snakehead (*Channa argus*) — Larger fish often hunt them in their natural habitat.
- **Eats:** [Yellow fever mosquito](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-fever-mosquito) (*Aedes aegypti*) — They help control mosquito populations by eating their larvae.
- **Eats:** Common water flea (*Daphnia pulex*) — They feed on tiny crustaceans that drift in the water.

## Traits

- [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
- [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
- [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
- [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.

## Collections

- [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

When observing Glass Catfish in aquariums, do not tap on the glass as it can stress them. Always be gentle around fish.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Glass Catfish?

Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Glass Catfish?

6-7 cm

### How much does Glass Catfish weigh?

0.001-0.005 kg

### How long does Glass Catfish live?

6-8 years

### What does Glass Catfish eat?

They are tiny hunters, mostly eating small bugs and critters floating in the water.

### How fast can Glass Catfish swim?

1.5 km/h

### Where is Glass Catfish usually found?

Freshwater

### How does Glass Catfish hunt?

Foraging

## More Fish

- [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*)
- [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*)
- [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*)
- [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*)

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Source: [Glass Catfish: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/glass-catfish)