Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus) Care Guide
Anabas testudineus is a hardy Asian labyrinth fish famous for moving overland between pools, an aggressive predator best kept in a spacious species tank.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Anabas testudineus, the climbing perch, is an Asian labyrinth fish of the family Anabantidae famed for travelling overland between pools using body undulation and its pectoral fins. Described by Bloch in 1792, it is a sturdy, aggressive species best housed alone. It is an important food fish across South and Southeast Asia.
Taxonomy
- Family: Anabantidae
- Genus: Anabas
- Scientific name: Anabas testudineus
- Described by: Bloch, 1792
- Common synonyms: Walking Perch
Habitat
The native range spans freshwater systems from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka through Southern China and Southeast Asia west of the Wallace Line. It is euryhaline, tolerating varying salinity, and can survive out of water for about 6-10 hours. Outside its native range it behaves as an invasive species, with records as far as the Torres Strait.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- GH: 5-20 °dGH
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
A spacious, tightly covered aquarium is essential because this powerful air-breather can escape and survive out of water for hours. Provide robust decor and avoid delicate fittings.
Diet
A carnivore, it takes meaty live and frozen foods and prepared diets. Adults are predatory and will consume smaller tankmates.
Compatibility
Aggressive and predatory, the climbing perch is a species-only display fish. Smaller fish and long-finned fish should not be housed with it.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. Scientific evidence suggests the fish may represent a species complex rather than a single species.
Climbing Perch Breeding Guide
Overview
Anabas testudineus is an Asian labyrinth fish reaching about 25 cm total length according to FishBase and Wikipedia, distributed widely from the Indian subcontinent through Southeast Asia to southern China. It is an amphibious species that can survive out of water and move overland. The record's breeding type is listed as egg-scatterer, but FishBase documents that the species guards its eggs at the water surface, so this guide follows the source.
Breeding Setup
This is a large, sturdy and aggressive fish best kept in a species-only set-up of at least 200 litres. FishBase lists a temperature range of about 22-30 C for the species. A tightly covered, spacious tank is required given its ability to climb and leave the water.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
FishBase associates reproduction with seasonal flooding: the species undertakes lateral migration from permanent water bodies to flooded areas during the flood season. It is highly prolific, with FishBase citing an estimated fecundity in the range of tens of thousands of eggs (about 40,000-80,000) based on resilience models.
Egg & Fry Care
According to FishBase the fish guards its eggs at the surface of hypoxic (low-oxygen) waters, indicating parental attendance of the eggs near the surface rather than complete abandonment. Detailed incubation times and fry-rearing data are not given in the consulted sources and are therefore omitted.
Common Challenges
The aggression and large adult size make pairing and a sufficiently large, securely covered tank the main practical hurdles. Replicating the seasonal flood trigger is difficult in home aquaria, which is why commercial production is usually tied to flood-season conditions.