Home · Siluridae · Schilbe glass catfish
Schilbe glass catfish (Kryptopterus schilbeides) — Siluridae

Schilbe glass catfish

Kryptopterus schilbeides
Family: Siluridae

The Schilbe glass catfish (Kryptopterus schilbeides) is a freshwater fish of the family Siluridae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Freshwater
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Schilbe glass catfish is a glass catfish (Siluridae) from slow-flowing and still fresh water of Sundaland in Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a slender, strongly laterally compressed, partly translucent body with an almost absent dorsal fin, a long anal fin and long barbels. As a social fish it hovers at an angle in the middle and upper layer and snaps at insects, larvae and small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Schilbe glass catfish?

The Schilbe glass catfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Schilbe glass catfish live?

The Schilbe glass catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Schilbe glass catfish get?

The Schilbe glass catfish grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Schilbe glass catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Schilbe glass catfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Schilbe glass catfish edible?

Yes, the Schilbe glass catfish is commonly eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Schilbe-glasmeerval sourced
English name
Schilbe glass catfish sourced
Scientific name
Kryptopterus schilbeides
Family
Siluridae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Kryptopterus

More from the family Siluridae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →