Highfin Glassfish

Parambassis lala (Highfin Glassfish or High-fin Glassy Perchlet) is a schooling fish whose natural range extends across India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The 3-4 cm large perch can be found in freshwater ponds. Its transparent body, which shimmers golden yellow in the light, makes it particularly interesting.

Care in the aquarium

This peaceful glassfish can be classified as easy to care for and does not make particularly high demands on the water parameters. The soft to medium-hard water may have a temperature between 20 and 29°C and a pH between 6.5 and 8.0. As a schooling fish that likes to swim, it needs a group of at least 10 animals so that it feels comfortable and is not frightened, and despite its small size it needs an edge length of at least 80 cm. A dense border planting, which leaves enough swimming space, as well as roots, stone structures or the like serve as a retreat and should not be missing in the aquarium. A socialization of the Highfin Glassfish is possible with other peaceful and calm fish.

Feeding

Since the Highfin Glassfish is a carnivore that tends not to accept dry food, it must be offered live and frozen food.

Sexual characteristics and breeding

Males of Parambassis lala get a bright blue border on the dorsal and anal fins and have a slightly more intense yellow coloration than their female counterparts. Breeding in the aquarium is possible. In order to increase the willingness to spawn, the water temperature should ideally be at 21-24°C and increased slightly by changing the water with 26-28°C warm water. The Highfin Glassfish is a cling spawner and attaches up to 200 eggs to plants. Since the eggs are susceptible to fungal infections, there should be plenty of humic substances in the water and good water hygiene should be ensured. After about 24 hours the larvae have hatched from their eggs and another 3-4 days later they are already swimming freely. They can be fed with small live food such as copepods and artemia nauplii.