Edit Chanda ranga

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Name

Scientific name

Chanda ranga

Described by

Authority Hamilton, Year 1822

Family

Ambassidae

Summary

The Indian glass fish, Chanda ranga, is a small ambassid from South and Southeast Asia, with translucent skin that shows its bones and orga…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

80mm, standard length

Tank size

Minimum length 80 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Minimum height 30 cm

Water

Temperature and pH

Temperature 20–30°C, pH 6.5–8

Hardness

8–20dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand

Supporting text

Etymology

Not written yet

Distribution

India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia. Introduced to Japan and Hong Kong.

Habitat

It usually inhabits areas of slow moving or still water.

Aquarium size

An aquarium with dimensions of 80 ∗ 30 ∗ 30 cm31 ∗ 12 ∗ 12 in or equivalent should be the smallest considered.

Maintenance

A dark substrate will help to make this shy species less nervous and encourage it to display its best colours. Provide cover by planting some areas of the tank…

Water conditions

Temperature: 20 – 30 °C68 – 86 °F pH: 6.5-8.0 Hardness: 8-20°H

Diet

Relatively unfussy and will accept most live, frozen and dried foods.

Behaviour and compatibility

C. ranga is peaceful and shy and should not be combined with vigorous or aggressive species. The choice of tankmates is also governed by the type of water in w…

Sexual dimorphism

Males have blue edging to the dorsal and anal fins and are a slightly deeper yellow on the body than females. These differences are more apparent when the fish…

Reproduction

Not too difficult, although the fry are difficult to raise. Provide the fish with a heavily planted aquarium of around 30" x 12" x 12". Stock it with 6-8 adult…

Notes

The common name of this species arose because its translucent skin means that the bone structure and internal organs are clearly visible. For many years it has…

The common name of this species arose because its translucent skin means that the bone structure and internal organs are clearly visible. For many years it has been artificially injected with luminous dyes on fish farms in Asia and then sold as "Painted" glass fish or "Disco fish". This abhorrent act involves injecting the fish repeatedly with a large needle and most fish do not survive more than a few months afterwards. Whilst painted fish of this and other species are still available in many countries, protracted campaigning has seen them virtually removed from UK stores.

Now to dispel a myth about glass fish. According to most resources (including the majority of internet sites), this species requires the addition of salt to its water to keep it at it's best, often stating that it is susceptible to fungal infections when kept in freshwater. This is simply not true. Whilst the fish can indeed be acclimatised to mildly brackish water (and are found in brackish conditions in some of their habitats in nature), it is found most often in freshwater. Additionally, many of these freshwater habitats actually contain quite soft, acidic water. When purchasing this fish, ask your dealer what conditions they are being kept in. If they are in freshwater, don't be tempted to add salt to the tank when you get home, as there is no need.

It is not inconceivable that a combination of the brackish myth, the susceptibility of the painted fish to disease and the fact that this is quite a short-lived species have given rise to the commonly held belief that this fish is hard to keep. In reality, it is a pretty and peaceful species, well-suited to many community tanks. One final point to note is that there are several closely related species which are often imported as C. ranga, as they look very similar. The most common of these are Parambassis lala and C. siamensis. Lala can be distinguished by it's small (1 1/2") adult size and the presence of three vertical bars behind it's eye. Ranga has a dark area behind the eye, whilst siamensis has no patterning here. C. siamensis is also a more elongate fish than the other 2 species.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the profileFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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DOI

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Year

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Pages

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References

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Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Tank size

Water

Temperature and pH

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Supporting text

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References