Climbing Perch
Anabas testudineus
Climbing perch is a hardy labyrinth fish native to South and Southeast Asia, now widely introduced and established in many warm waters. It tolerates low oxygen by breathing air and often occupies shallow, stagnant habitats with dense cover.
Identification points
- Deep, laterally compressed body with a long dorsal fin extending most of the back
- Large rough ctenoid scales that give the sides a checkered, armored look
- Strong, spiny gill covers and a broad head with a terminal mouth
Habitat
Warm freshwater marshes, ponds, canals, floodplains, rice fields, and slow or still backwaters with heavy vegetation; it can survive in low-oxygen water by gulping air and is also found in brackish estuaries in parts of its range.
Bait notes
Takes earthworms, maggots, small shrimp, insect larvae, bits of fish, dough, and rice-based baits. Small soft plastics, tiny jigs, and float-fished natural baits can work where the species is pressured or feeding on fry and insects.
Behavior
Opportunistic omnivore that feeds on insects, ছোট crustaceans, worms, small fish, and plant matter. It is resilient in poor water and often moves through shallow margins and floodplain vegetation; in wet periods it may travel over damp ground using its spiny gill covers and strong pectoral fins.
Caution
Handle carefully: the dorsal and anal fin spines can prick hands and they can thrash hard on the bank. Check local rules before keeping or moving them, since it is an invasive species in some regions and management may restrict transport or release.
Fishing notes
Fish light tackle around reeds, hyacinth edges, flooded grass, and canal banks. Use small hooks and a slow presentation near cover; float fishing is effective, and in dense vegetation a short leader helps reduce snagging. It is usually a modest sport fish rather than a premier target.