Indian glassy fish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indian glassy fish |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Parambassis
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| Species: |
ranga
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| Synonyms | |
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Chanda ranga F. Hamilton, 1822 |
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The Parambassis ranga, also known as the Indian glassy fish or Indian X-ray fish, is a small, see-through fish. It is a type of freshwater fish from the glassfish family called Ambassidae. This unique fish lives in parts of South Asia, from Pakistan all the way to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Bangladesh.
The Indian glassy fish has an amazing transparent body. This means you can actually see its bones and internal organs! Male fish have a dark edge on their top fin. These fish can grow up to 80 mm (3.1 in) long, which is about 3 inches.
They like to live in calm waters, such as ponds and lakes. During the rainy season, they lay many eggs. Indian glassy fish eat small creatures like crustaceans (like tiny shrimp) and worms. Bigger fish, such as snakeheads, sometimes hunt and eat them.
People don't usually eat Indian glassy fish. However, they are very popular in the aquarium trade. They were once known as Chanda ranga.
Keeping Indian Glassy Fish as Pets
Indian glassy fish have been kept in home aquariums for many years. Sometimes, people think they are hard to care for. This might be because of an old idea that these fish need brackish water (a mix of fresh and salt water). But in the wild, they mostly live in fresh water.
In an aquarium, they do well in water that is slightly soft to medium hard. The water's pH should be between 6.5 and 7.5, which is slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. They can also handle a wide range of temperatures, from 20 to 30 °C (68 to 86 °F).
These fish usually swim in the middle and lower parts of the fish tank. They enjoy eating small live or frozen foods. They often don't like dried foods, like flakes.
How Glassy Fish Reproduce
When it's time to have babies, the female fish lay their eggs. After the eggs are laid, the male fish fertilize them.
Dyed Glassy Fish: What You Should Know
Sometimes, Indian glassy fish sold in pet stores are "painted". This means someone has injected colored dye into the fish's clear body. This is done to make them look more colorful and attractive to people buying fish. These fish are sometimes called "disco fish".
Many people who are new to keeping fish don't know that this process is not natural. It can be very painful for the fish and can cause them kidney damage. Fish that have been dyed often get sick easily. They can suffer from infections like Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (also known as Ich), fin rot, and a viral disease called lymphocystis.
The artificial colors often fade away after a short time. Healthy, unpainted Indian glassy fish can live for three to four years in an aquarium. However, it can be hard to find these natural, unpainted fish in some places.
