Indian Glassfish

Native to South and Southeast Asia, ranging from India through Myanmar and into parts of Thailand, Parambassis ranga is one of those fish that genuinely stops people mid-step at the fish store. Their bodies are nearly completely transparent, showing the backbone, swim bladder, and internal organs through glass-clear tissue outlined in a faint silver-gold iridescence. It's a striking, almost alien look in a planted or dimly lit tank.

Unfortunately, they're frequently sold as so-called 'painted' or 'disco' fish, injected with colored dye to make them appear bright pink, blue, or yellow. Avoid these entirely. The injection process is stressful and often fatal within months. Undyed fish are genuinely beautiful on their own terms and live far longer.

In terms of water, they're adaptable across a decent pH range and can even handle low-end brackish conditions, though they thrive perfectly well in freshwater with moderate hardness. They're not as forgiving as common beginner species though, particularly around feeding. Most wild-caught or store-bought individuals are reluctant to accept dry or pelleted food and really need live or frozen options like bloodworm, daphnia, and brine shrimp to stay healthy long-term.

A 75-liter tank with gentle filtration, soft lighting, and some floating plant cover gives them a setup where they'll actually swim openly rather than hiding. They're a community-minded species in the best sense, peaceful toward similarly sized fish and genuinely fascinating to watch once they settle in.