Indian Glass Perch

Parambassis ranga, the Indian Glass Fish or Indian Glassy Perch, is one of the aquarium hobby's most extraordinary species: the body is almost completely transparent, rendering the skeleton, swim bladder, and organs fully visible under normal lighting. Found across the Indian subcontinent, Bangladesh, and Myanmar in both standing and flowing waters, it is a schooling predator of small invertebrates and zooplankton.

In the aquarium it is a rewarding and historically popular species. It requires live or frozen small foods such as brine shrimp, Daphnia, and bloodworm as the primary diet — it rarely accepts dry food alone, though a combination approach works. Clean, slightly hard to moderately hard water suits it best, reflecting the alkaline rivers of much of its range. Groups of eight or more display the most relaxed and natural behaviour.

A word of caution: specimens sold with artificial fluorescent dye injections (so-called 'painted' or 'disco' glassfish) should be avoided on animal welfare grounds. Natural, undyed fish are the appropriate choice and are frequently available. Breeding in captivity involves spawning over fine-leaved plants with no parental care.

Water: 20–28 °C, pH 7.0–8.0, moderately hard; slightly alkaline conditions preferred. Tank: 80 L minimum; planted with open swimming space; avoid dyed specimens. Feeding: Carnivore; live/frozen brine shrimp, Daphnia, bloodworm; accepts pellets reluctantly. Breeding: Egg-scatter over plants; no parental care; fry accept micro live foods. Compatibility: Peaceful schooling species; keep with other medium-sized South Asian community fish.