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No federal permit to keepStriped glass catfish
Kryptopterus macrocephalus
Fishes › Catfish (Siluriformes) › Siluridae (Glass and sheat catfish)
Kryptopterus macrocephalus, the striped glass catfish, is a species of sheatfish native to the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo in Southeast Asia.
Intro from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 3.8 in / 9.7 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 72–79°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6.5–7.4.
- Hardness: 10–20 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: A predator: feed meaty foods sized to its mouth (frozen fish, shrimp, worms); it will eat tankmates that fit in its mouth. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 47 × 12 in (roughly 29 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: soft, acidic water, 68–79 °F, pH 4–7, 1–8 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful; a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; not a community fish.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Best kept in a well-decorated set-up with some surface or floating vegetation since it appears to prefer relatively dim conditions.”
- Diet: “Probably a predator feeding on crustaceans, invertebrates and smaller fishes in nature, although there should be no need to use such live foods in captivity.”
- Tankmates: “Generally peaceful though it may predate on smaller fishes and is somewhat timid so does not compete well with much larger, robust or otherwise boisterous species.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Glass and sheat catfish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: The listed Asian silurids inhabit rivers, canals and seasonal floodwaters, while Kryptopterus macrocephalus specializes in peat-swamp forest and associated blackwater streams. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For Kryptopterus bicirrhis, provide at least a 120 × 45 cm (about 48 × 18 inch) tank footprint, subdued light and cover.
- For K. macrocephalus, provide at least a 120 × 30 cm (about 48 × 12 inch) footprint, floating vegetation and a well-decorated dim environment.
- For Ompok bimaculatus, provide at least 180 × 60 × 60 cm (about 72 × 24 × 24 inches), open swimming room and suitably sized pipe shelters.
- Use mature filtration and regular water changes; Ompok needs powerful filtration to handle its waste and benefits from some current.
- Match chemistry to identity: K. macrocephalus is maintained at pH 4.0–7.0 and 1–8 dGH; Ompok has a much broader reported pH 6.0–8.0 and 4–28 dGH tolerance.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 68–78.8°F |
Diet
- Sinking prepared carnivore foods for established Kryptopterus.
- Bloodworm and other appropriately sized frozen invertebrates.
- Small earthworms for Kryptopterus; larger worms for Ompok.
- Prawn and mussel pieces for larger Ompok.
Social life
- Keep K. bicirrhis and K. macrocephalus in conspecific groups of at least four. Avoid boisterous competitors and fish small enough to swallow; Ompok is a much larger predator despite its relatively shy disposition.
Health watch
- Ammonia injury from failed filtration.
- Bacterial skin or fin infections associated with poor water quality.
Understanding the animal
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams. Uses both the bottom and open water. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 72–79 °F (22–26 °C), pH 6.5–7.4, hardness 10–20 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Wild diet | Hunting macrofauna (predator). |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 72–79 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 89°F (up to 90°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 72°F (down to 71°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 79–81°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 81–83% on average (driest month about 79%) |
| Rainfall | about 2541 mm a year, spread fairly evenly |
Measured at 28 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Kryptopterus macrocephalus, the striped glass catfish, is a species of sheatfish native to the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo in Southeast Asia. This species, large for its genus, grows to a length of 9.7 cm SL. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Behavior | The range of this is restricted due to its preference to acidic, blackwater rivers with a preference for peat. It prefers dark spots in fast-flowing waters and is omnivorous when young. Adults are predatory, hunting small prey such as fish fry and it is a social species being found in groups. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Appearance and size | This is a translucent freshwater catfish with two long barbels. The body is a smoky colour, with a transparent anal fin and belly, with organs visible. The fish is capable of changing its colour to some extent, taking on a mottled form even though it is not known why. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Restricted to peat habitats. Occurs in shady spots in running waters. Omnivorous, although larger individuals may prey on smaller fishes. — FishBase |
| History and naming | Kryptopterus macrocephalus is one of several freshwater fish endemic to Southeast Asia described by Pieter Bleeker in the 1850s when he was stationed in the Dutch East Indies, practicing his ichthyology alongside his military duties. The fish's name is derived from a combination of Kryptopterus (meaning "hidden wing", in reference to the reduced dorsal fin), and macrocephalus meaning "large head". — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 47 × 12 in (about 29 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Seriously Fish: Kryptopterus bicirrhis Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish: Kryptopterus macrocephalus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish: Ompok bimaculatus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- FishBase: Kryptopterus geminus Peer-reviewed researchAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
