兰副双边鱼 · Indian Glass Fish

Overview

The translucent body of Chanda ranga exposes bones and internal organs. This shy, peaceful shoaling fish does not require routine salt addition in freshwater. Artificially dye-injected glassfish have appeared in trade, but that treatment compromises health; choose naturally colored stock.

Distribution & habitat

Its native range includes India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Japan and Hong Kong have introduced populations. Still or slow waters are typical, mostly freshwater with some mildly brackish occurrences.

Aquarium setup

Provide at least about 80 cm of tank length. Dark substrate helps reduce nervousness. Dense planted sections, floating cover, rocks, and wood offer shelter.

Suitable freshwater or mildly brackish systems are possible, but salt is not obligatory. Establish the supplier's conditions before purchase. Fish maintained in freshwater do not need salt added simply because of a common glassfish myth. Some natural sites are soft and acidic, although aquarium conditions should remain stable within the established range.

Diet & feeding

Most live, frozen, and prepared aquarium foods are accepted, making feeding relatively flexible.

Behaviour & compatibility

Avoid aggressive or excessively vigorous companions. Match every occupant to the actual freshwater or brackish system rather than treating stocking options as interchangeable.

Maintain at least six. Single fish or pairs tend to fare poorly. Males may defend small spawning areas, but physical injury is uncommon.

Sexual dimorphism

Males have blue dorsal- and anal-fin edges and a deeper yellow body, especially during breeding. The visible swim bladder ends more sharply toward the rear in males.

Breeding

Spawning is easier than raising the young. Condition six to eight adults in a spacious, well-planted tank on a varied quality diet. Morning natural light may help. About 21–24 °C and near-neutral water suit conditioning.

Once males intensify in color and females become rounded, an evening change with warmer water can gradually bring conditions toward 26.5–29 °C. Spawning may follow next morning. A pair can produce about 200 eggs attached to leaves and stems; remove adults afterward.

Eggs are vulnerable to fungus, so maintain clean incubation conditions and observe them. Hatching occurs after about 24 hours. Larvae hang from plants before swimming freely three or four days later. They wait for drifting food rather than actively hunting it. Artemia nauplii and gentle circulation improve food encounters, while frequent small water changes manage the waste from generous feeding.

Notes

Repeated dye injections can leave treated fish with survival measured in months. Illness associated with that practice should not be attributed to freshwater itself.

Similar species are sometimes mislabeled. Chanda siamensis has a more elongated body and no mark behind the eye; this species has a dark area there, while Parambassis lala shows three vertical bars. Examine the fish rather than relying entirely on trade labels.