How this little see-through fish gets its rainbow shimmer

The Glass Catfish is a species of tropical fish that originates from the Mekong River in Southeast Asia. It is an elongated, transparent fish that has a glass-like appearance. It has a light brown stripe down the midline of its body and its fins are tinted with a yellow hue. The Glass Catfish is a peaceful fish that is best kept in schools of six or more. It is an active fish that should be kept in an aquarium of at least 30 gallons with plenty of hiding places. The water should be well-oxygenated and maintained at a temperature of 75-82°F. It is important to keep the water quality high and perform regular water changes to keep the Glass Catfish healthy. It is an omnivore and should be fed a variety of meaty and vegetable-based foods. It is also important to provide plenty of hiding places. The Glass Catfish can be territorial and may fight with other fish, so it is important to provide enough space for them to avoid these territorial disputes.

Scientists have been working hard to shed light on the secrets behind the rainbow shimmer of the glassfish, a small, transparent freshwater fish found in South and Southeast Asia. The shimmer is created by a combination of light reflecting off the fish's scales, which contain many layers of thin, transparent cells, and its body pigments. The thin layers of cells in the fish's scales contain guanine, an amino acid that reflects light, resulting in a shimmery effect. The body pigments of the glassfish contain carotenoids and melanins, which also help to produce the rainbow shimmer. The combination of these different layers and pigments is what gives the glassfish its unique, beautiful color. To learn more about this remarkable study please read Maddie Burakoff’s article from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences https://phys.org/news/2023-03-see-through-fish-rainbow-shimmer.html