How to Breed Glass Catfish

The glass catfish is a small variety of fish that grows up to 6 inches in length and is transparent, meaning that its spine and organs are visible. They are best kept on small shoals of four or more in a large fish tank with a simulated current and a pH of between 6.5 to 7.5. The Ideal water temperature for the glass catfish is 73 to 82 degrees F.

Things You'll Need

  • Fish tank, 10 gallons or larger
  • Powerhead aquarium current simulator
  • Temperature controller
  • Floating plants
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Instructions

  1. Stimulating Spawning

    • 1

      Empty the aquarium down to about halfway full to begin simulating the rainy season. This is when the species naturally spawns in the wild.

    • 2

      Begin feeding the adult fish a diet of mosquito larvae, daphnia and bloodworms. This helps to stimulate the spawning process.

    • 3

      Lower the tank's water temperature down to between 72 and 75 degrees F and maintain the normal pH levels suitable for the fish.

    • 4

      Each day add around 5 percent to the water level in the tank. This fools the fish into thinking the water levels are rising as they would in a river environment.

    • 5

      Observe the fish. It can be hard to know which are female, but if the process is working, the females should start to display swollen bellies.

    • 6

      Move the adults to a different tank if spawning stimulation works and eggs are produced. The females will lay the eggs on the aquarium plants.

    • 7

      Continue to simulate rainy season conditions. You may need to remove some of the water from the tank so as to able to add small amounts back daily.

    • 8

      When the eggs hatch, begin feeding the small fry with freshly hatched brine shrimp. Keep them separate from the adult fish until they are closer to adult size themselves.