It is native to an area of South Asia from Pakistan to Vietnam, Malaysia and Bangladesh.

[2] The Indian glassy fish has an extraordinarily transparent body, revealing its bones and internal organs; the male develops a dark edge to the dorsal fin.

It is, in turn, prey for larger fish, including snakeheads (family Channidae).

[4] These fish swim at the middle and lower levels of the tank, and will take most small live and frozen foods.

Healthy, unpainted specimens may live three to four years in captivity, but such individuals may be difficult to find in some localities.