Fish of the Day

Date: September 18, 2023, 8:00AM

Happy Monday everyone! It's been a long time since the last Fish of the Day email, but I'm glad to be back!

Today's fish of the day is the Parambassis ranga! Also known by the common name Indian Glass Fish. The name comes from the amazingly transparent quality of their body. However, despite being named the Indian glass fish, they are mainly found in Pakistan, Malaysia, and Vietnam, along with many other South Asian countries. Their wild habitat consists of freshwater streams, and standing water. Often found in irrigation canals, rice fields, and lakes. Their diet consists of small crustaceans, worms, and small invertebrates. In turn, they are eaten by larger fish.

The Indian glass fish can get as long as 80 mm (3.1 inch) although most are only 1-2 inches. Males in this species are known for developing a darkened edge to their dorsal fin, and they mate during the rainy season. They are commonly kept in the aquarium trade and by hobbyists, and some variations called "disco fish" or "painted" exist. However, these are fish that have been injected with dye and this leads to kidney damage. Healthy, unpainted fish can live for 4 to 5 years in captivity, and it is unknown how long they can live in the wild.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!