All fish / Ambassidae

Humphead Glassfish

Parambassis pulcinella

Also known as humphead glass fish, hump head glassfish, humphead perchlet, pulcinella glassfish, punch glassfish, humpback glassfish, ปลาแป้นแก้วหัวโหนก, パランバッシス・プルキネラ, 驼背玻璃鱼

A semi-transparent glassfish with dark vertical bars and a striking humped forehead that develops into a tall crest with an elongated first dorsal ray in adults. It is kept for its unusual profile and calm, deliberate shoaling behaviour in planted, clear-water tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more

Diet

Carnivore: live and frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, mysis and daphnia; some accept small pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Myanmar and western Thailand (Tenasserim and Ataran river basins)

Breeding

An egg-scattering species that has rarely been bred in home aquariums. Most fish in the trade are wild caught, and raising the tiny fry would need very small live foods.

Good to know

Often reluctant to take dried food at first and may eat very small fish or shrimp. Do not confuse it with dyed or painted glassfish, which are a different species treated cruelly for colour.