Yb^3  +  /  Ho^3  + co-doped silicate-germanate glasses with excellent thermal properties and optical properties were prepared by a high temperature melting method. The measured parameter ΔT (134°C) >120  °  C indicates that compared with Yb^3  +  /  Ho^3  + co-doped germanate glass and Er^3  + doped tellurite glass, there is a better crystallization resistance and thermal performance in Yb^3  +  /  Ho^3  + co-doped silicate-germanate glass. A 2.0-μm emission with the full-width at half-maximum of 203 nm was successfully obtained when excited by a 980-nm laser diode. Moreover, the results show that doping with an appropriate amount of Yb^3  + ions can enhance the 2.0-μm emission intensity significantly. In addition, the underlying mechanism was based on fluorescence spectra. Therefore, the desirable thermal properties and 2.0-μm emission indicate that the Yb^3  +  /  Ho^3  + co-doped silicate-germanate glass is a promising candidate for mid-infrared fiber and laser material applications.