Dietary analysis of a population of the glassfish Chanda nama from a wetland in southwestern India revealed facultative scale feeding (lepidophagy). In addition to fish scales, microcrustacea and aquatic insects were consumed by all size classes, with juvenile diets containing larger fractions of invertebrates. More scales were consumed during the wet season, the period when abundance of juvenile fishes was greatest. Aquarium observations revealed how the glassfish uses stealth and ambush tactics. Scales are dislodged by raking the extended lower jaw, distally armed with four curved conical teeth, across the flanks of prey.