>alright, bruce, but isn't size a relative thing? :-)
>
>actually, i mispoke, they are at least 3 1/2" body length (without the
>tail) and deep bodied, with long extended pectorals. they are at least 5
>times larger (in body mass) than the glassfish (Chanda).
>
>looking through my baensch, couldn't find any Ambassis, they are all
>synonyms to Chanda. but in my copy of "freshwater fishes of western
>indonesia and sulawesi" there are a few Ambassis, but the pictures are
>of "dead" individuals photographed in a lab and pretty colorless. the
>fish at the shop also have very elongated pectorals in comparison to the
>ones in the book. they are sort of greyish looking, with black margins
>in the fins.
>
Sorry if I was abrupt but a 3 1/2 inch Glassfish is a lot more unique than a
2 inch one - the fish you describe may be members of the Parambassis genus
(see Plate 51 in the reference you quoted) they also occur in New guinea and
Australia and are quiet peaceful schooling fish that are safe with fish too
large to be swallowed whole.
Regards,
Bruce.
Bruce Hansen, A.N.G.F.A., Advancing Australian Aquatics.
Bruce Hansen, ANGFA, caring for our aquatic ecosystems.
Please visit us at http://www.ozemail.com.au/~fisher/angfa.htm