Indian Glassfish

Parambassis ranga

Also known as: Indian glassy fish, Glassfish, Glass perch

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 20–28°C
• pH: 7–8.5
• Hardness (GH): 143–357 ppm (8–20 dGH)

Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.

Care Summary

One of the few genuinely transparent fish in the hobby, the Indian glassfish has a glass-clear body through which its skeleton and silvery swim bladder are plainly visible, faintly iridescent and tinged with gold along the fins. It is a peaceful, hard-water schooling fish that deserves more attention than it gets, partly because of a notorious practice it is associated with: glassfish are the species most often sold as 'disco', 'painted', or 'fruit' fish, injected with fluorescent dye to fake colour. The dyeing is stressful, the colour fades, and dyed fish are short-lived and prone to disease, so buy only natural, undyed specimens and avoid shops that stock the painted ones. Kept properly, in a group, in hard water, with small live or frozen foods to suit a micropredator that often snubs flake, the natural glassfish is a hardy, fascinating, and quietly beautiful community fish, and a small act of refusing the dye trade.

Tankmates

A peaceful, slightly shy schooling fish that must be kept in a group of at least six to feel secure and show its best behaviour. Its small size and timid nature mean it should go only with calm, similarly-sized community fish, and being a micropredator it will eat dwarf shrimp and the smallest fish, so choose tankmates accordingly. It naturally favours hard, alkaline, and sometimes slightly brackish water, which makes it a good match for hard Australian tap supplies and for hard-water tankmates such as livebearers, danios, and rainbowfish, though it does perfectly well in hard fresh water without added salt. Avoid boisterous, nippy, or large predatory tankmates. A planted tank with subdued lighting and open swimming space suits its nervous disposition.

Compatible with

• Harlequin Rasbora
• Pristella Tetra
• Zebra Danio
• Bronze Corydoras
• Bristlenose Pleco
• Platy

Avoid keeping with

• Betta
• Angelfish
• Large Cichlids
• Fin Nippers
• Tiger Barb

Common Problems

• being sold dyed or 'painted', which is stressful and shortens life (buy undyed only)
• reluctance to take dry food (prefers live or frozen)
• shyness in groups smaller than 6
• predation on dwarf shrimp

Sources: seriouslyfish.com, fishbase.org · Last updated: 2026-06-20