Fun Indian Glassy Fish Facts For Kids

The Indian glassy fish (scientific name Parambassis ranga) previously classified as Chanda ranga is known by many names namely siamese glassfish, disco fish, Indian glass perch, and Indian glassfish.

The fish is heavily distributed in South Asian countries And although there are many nuances like water hardness, correct water temperature, aquarium size, need for brackish water that should be kept in mind while adopting the species, it is still very popular in the aquarium trade.

These glassy pets are shy when alone but bold and energetic when they are swimming around in groups. They are efficient carnivores who feed on various kinds of worms and shrimp in the wild and live or frozen food in captivity.

It is unfortunate that the species is often painted or injected with fluorescent colors for commercial purposes since the process is not only painful but also causes early death.

If you want to keep learning, do check out some interesting facts and information about the catfish and the tilefish.

Indian Glassy Fish Interesting Facts

What type of animal is an Indian glassy fish?

The Indian glass fish formerly known as Chanda ranga, is a species of fish. Its scientific name is Parambassis ranga. The glass fish belongs to the family Ambassidae.

What class of animal does an Indian glassy fish belong to?

Indian glass fish belongs to the class order Actinopterygii.

How many Indian glassy fish are there in the world?

An accurate estimate of the number of mature Parambassis ranga or Indian glass fish in the world is unavailable. But the species has been listed as Least Concern and their population is known to be stable.

Where does an Indian glassy fish live?

This freshwater Asiatic glass fish has a wide range and is distributed in many parts of South Asia. It can be found living in India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

What is an Indian glassy fish's habitat?

This Indian glassy fish habitat is in the freshwater. They typically live in slow-moving or standing water.

There exists a popular misconception that the fish can only survive in slightly brackish water. (Brackish water is saltier than fresh water, but not as much as seawater.) If you are looking to adopt an Indian glassy perch for your aquarium, you should learn under what condition and temperature they have been living previously.

Who do Indian glassy fish live with?

This tropical fish or Indian x-ray fish has a shy temperament but that does not stop it from congregating. The Parambassis ranga is usually a part of active and bold shoals or groups of five.

Whether it is in the wild or in an aquarium, they prefer to stay and travel in small groups.

If it is being kept in a freshwater aquarium, some good tank mates would be rainbowfish, corys, tetras, and guppies. If it is living in a slightly brackish aquarium, it would make good tank mates with Mollies.

How long does an Indian glassy fish live?

The tropical fish has an average lifespan of 3-4 years in captivity provided they are healthy and unpainted. The glass fish is often painted or injected with neon colors to add a pop of color to the aquarium but this is harmful to the fish and they might even develop viral infections from the paint.

Painted Indian glassy fish do not survive for too long even if they are kept under optimal care.

How do they reproduce?

The glass fish proliferates and breeds abundantly during the rainy season when in the wild. The rain reduces the water hardness which makes it easier for the fish to spawn.

It can, however, be quite tricky to breed the glass fish in a tank or aquarium since it can be quite difficult to keep the fry alive. The fish is ready to breed when dark discolorations appear in the male's body while females sport plump bellies.

It is crucial to separate the pairs to another aquarium or tank at this point.

Within the morning, females will spawn 200 eggs in the water on broad-leaved plants or vegetation which will then be fertilized by males. Once the eggs are laid, introduce the adult pairs back into your tank because there is a good chance they will feed on their own eggs or fry if kept together.

It will take 24 hours for the eggs to hatch. The young will be swimming in 3-4 days.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation report of the glass fish is evaluated as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Their population is also currently stable.

Indian Glassy Fish Fun Facts

What do Indian glassy fish look like?

The glassy fish is a small species of fish known for its striking transparent or translucent flesh. The body adaptations of the fish are see-through and colorless and one can easily spot the bones and internal organs of the fish with the naked eye.

The glass fish has a tiny body that grows only up to 3.2 in (8.1 cm) on average. Males of the species develop a blackish or bluish tint on their dorsal fins while their anal fins are slightly yellow.

These color differentiations further develop and intensify during the breeding season.

Males also have a swim bladder that has a pointed back edge. It is also worth mentioning that the glassfish is often injected with neon colors like pink, cyan, yellow to add a pop of color to one's aquarium.

A glassfish with such markings is called the disco fish. The process is extremely harmful and painful to the fish.

How cute are they?

The glassfish is a striking and captivating fish thanks to its translucent flesh. The aquarium fish makes for a fascinating addition to any tank.

How do they communicate?

The exact nature in which the fish Indian glassy communicates still remains unknown. It has a shy temperament but is energetic, playful, and even bold when traveling in small groups. This could indicate that they have some way of communicating within the group.

How big is an Indian glassy fish?

Parambassis ranga size is quite small. They have a length of 3.2 in (8.1 cm) on average. They are smaller than the clown wrasse, which is 14-16 in (35.6-40.6 cm).

How fast can an Indian glassy fish swim?

This aquarium fish is a fast, active, and playful swimmer. It requires a large tank or aquarium where they can go around swimming more freely. The aquarium size needs to be at least 23.6 in (60 cm) or 10-30 gals (37.9-113.6 l).

How much does an Indian glassy fish weigh?

The weight of the glassfish is unavailable. But based on its size and length, it can be deduced that the fish is rather lightweight.

What are the male and female names of the species?

No specific name has been allotted to males and females of the species. They are simply referred to as Indian glassy fish male and Indian glassy fish female.

What would you call a baby Indian glassy fish?

Baby or juvenile glassy fish (Indian glass fish) is called fry.

What do they eat?

The glass fish (Parambassis ranga) has a carnivorous diet. They feed on crustaceans and various invertebrates.

They search for different kinds of worms like bloodworms, tubifex worms, and annelid worms when in the wild. When kept in a tank or aquarium, the Indian glassy fish diet should be a healthy mixture of live food like shrimp, mosquito larvae, worms, and frozen and dried foods.

They usually don't have an affinity for dry food like flakes but they may grow an appetite for it if kept in a freshwater tank. They do not eat guppies or other fish.

Are they dangerous?

The siamese glassfish is not dangerous or aggressive. It has a rather shy temperament and hides behind plants and vegetation to avoid attention if it is separated from its group.

In fact, the peaceful fish has to fight to survive in the wild as it often falls prey to larger fishes like Snakeheads. Therefore, it is advised not to make them tank mates with bigger and more aggressive fishes.

Would they make a good pet?

The Parambassis ranga makes for an ideal aquarium fish. But they do require a lot of care and nurture to thrive.

For starters, the aquarium size must be at least 10 to 30 gals or 60 cm. Since it is a schooling fish, it must be kept with at least five or more fishes of the same species. The tank will get bigger depending on the number of inhabitants and tank mates.

The water in the tank can either be either fresh or brackish depending on where the fish has adapted to. If it is a freshwater tank, ph 6.5-7.5 would be an accurate value. If it is brackish, then it should only be so slightly as it might make the inhabitants lethargic.

The water temperature should be 68-86 F (20-30 C). The tank mates will also vary depending on the kind of water they are being kept in.

Did you know...

It is a common myth that the glass fish can only survive in brackish water but the species can easily get acclimatized to freshwater tanks as well. In fact, it would be better to keep them in freshwater as it will keep them energetic and active.

The water temperature of a tank where these glassy pets are kept must be tropical i.e. 68-86°F (20-30°C). But it might be increased to 85° F (30°C) for breeding.

The Parambassis ranga has a carnivorous diet and it will develop an appetite for frozen food in captivity but it is best to avoid exclude dry food items like flakes from their diet.

Are Indian glassy fish endangered?

The glass fish is not an Endangered species. As per the IUCN Red List, the fish is the Least Concern species with a stable population.

How did Indian glassy fish get their name?

The color Indian glassy fish can be best described as transparent, translucent, or 'glassy'. One can even see the bones and internal organs of the fish with the naked eye. Hence the name.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these rainbow cichlid facts and Arctic char facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable fish outline coloring pages.

Second image by Quatermass.