Glass Headstander (Charax gibbosus)

The Glass Headstander is an unusual, humpbacked characin from the Amazon basin whose largely transparent body reveals its internal organs and skeleton in striking detail. It adopts a characteristic head-down resting posture that is unique among commonly kept tetras, and its semi-transparent appearance makes it one of the most visually unusual characins available in the hobby. Best kept in a large aquarium with fish too large for it to prey upon, as it has a notably large mouth relative to its body size.

Keep in a spacious aquarium (minimum 200 L) with robust, large tankmates. Maintain pH 6.0–7.5, temperature 23–28°C, GH 2–12. Provide driftwood and plants for cover, with open swimming areas. Feed carnivore-oriented foods: frozen bloodworm, shrimp, small fish, and high-protein pellets. A single specimen or two can coexist in large tanks. Avoid keeping with small, fin-nipping tetras.