Order Perciformes
Family Ambassidae
Genus Parambassis
All these fish are surprisingly transparent and difficult to distinguish from one another. The best indicators are body shape and markings on the body. Parambassis siamensis have a rather elongated body (approximately three times longer than its height), while Parambassis lala and Parambassis ranga are much more rhomboid (approximately twice as high relative to body length). P. lala and P. ranga can be distinguished by their markings: — P. lala has three vertical stripes on the sides, whereas P. ranga has no more than one dark spot behind the eye.
— Highfin Glassy Perchlet — Parambassis lala [Hamilton, 1822]. Synonym: Ambassis, Chanda lala. India, Myanmar, Thailand. 3-5 cm. Keep in an aquarium with other small, peaceful fish. Usually, the fish is very timid at first, but after a few weeks, it gets used to its new surroundings and becomes active. Feels more confident in a school of 6-8 individuals. Aquariums with dense plantings. Prefer neutral or slightly alkaline water of medium to high hardness.
Requires very good filtration and high-quality water. Fish are very sensitive to water changes, which should be done gradually, in small portions; they need to be kept in mature water. Avoid sudden changes in water parameters. They tolerate prolonged water salination. Suitable for both freshwater and brackish water aquariums. pH 6.5-7.5; dH 8-20°; T 20-25°C.
— Humphead Glass Fish — Parambassis pulcinella [Kottelat, 2003]. (Eng. Humphead Glass Fish, Humphead Perchlet). Myanmar, Ataran and Salween river basins. Inhabits large freshwater rivers characterized by a strong current, high oxygen content, and clean water. The bottom consists of smooth stones and boulders of various sizes. 10 cm, this is the largest glass perch. High, laterally compressed body, like all glass fishes. They are not as transparent as some other species, but have a rather nice golden sheen that immediately catches the eye. The body is silvery-white with a sheen, giving it a golden hue. Scales on the upper part of the body can shimmer in blue and green. The dorsal and anal fins are smoky-gray in color with a black edge.
A dark stripe runs through the eye, the back is yellow. As they mature, males and females develop a yellow fatty hump at the beginning of the back, which can be seen in very few fish. A characteristic thin hump on the fish’s head is formed by the expansion of the spine. Mature males are larger and have larger humps. In females, the hump is slightly smaller than in males. Juveniles are transparent; as they grow, the scales on the sides become silvery and transparency is lost, followed by the appearance of black borders. Nowadays, fish artificially dyed with various unnatural colors are appearing on the market, which leads to poor health and a significant reduction in lifespan.
Plants, stones, and driftwood can be used according to your taste. Moderately aggressive, males fight for dominance. Although in the wild these are schooling fish, in an aquarium environment they tend to be aggressive towards each other. A hierarchy is formed within the school, and with a small number of fish, the weaker ones will be oppressed. In a group of 3-4 fish, there should be only one male. Small fish such as guppies, danios, tetras, and small shrimp will be considered delicious food. Any small fish that fits into the mouth will be eaten. Active fish, swimming throughout the entire aquarium, can be kept in large groups, although males occasionally squabble among themselves.
This is a freshwater variety and does not require the addition of salt. The water must have a strong current, be clean, and well oxygenated. Sensitive to high nitrate concentrations, ideally kept below 20 mg/l, which requires regular water changes. Like any wild fish, during the first 30 days of acclimatization, they have difficulty getting used to aquarium food; therefore, at the initial stage, live and frozen foods should make up the bulk of their diet. They are predatory fish that in the wild feed on small fish, shrimp, and aquatic insect larvae. Over time, they will accept pellets or flakes (this food should be supplementary), but regular feeding with live and frozen foods is necessary. They live for about 5 years. T 23-27°C; pH 7.0-7.5; dH 8-15°.
Identification: Humphead Glass Fish — Parambassis pulcinella.
— Siamese Glass Fish — Parambassis siamensis [Fowler, 1937]. Synonym: Ambassis, Chanda siamensis; Parambassis, Chanda punctulata. Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia. Mekong River basin. 6 cm. Differs from Parambassis ranga by a more elongated body. Transparent, glassy fish. Males are noticeably smaller. This species is one of the most frequently artificially dyed in Asia.
Aquarium with dense vegetation on the sides and back wall, along with floating vegetation. Stones and driftwood can also be used. Peaceful and timid, and should not be combined with assertive or aggressive species. Do not keep singly or in pairs; a group of at least 6 individuals is better. A school of glass fish prefers to swim in bright lighting. Males become somewhat territorial during the spawning period, but do not inflict physical damage.
A dark substrate is desirable, which will help make this shy species less nervous and also display its best colors. Medium hard water. Does not require the addition of salt to the water. Live, frozen, and dried foods are used for feeding, mainly cyclops and daphnia. T 22-27°C; pH 6.5-7.5; dH 8-15°.
Parambassis ranga, Parambassis wolffii.
Chanda nama, Gymnochanda filamentosa. 
