Climbing Perch
Anabas testudineus
Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus) is a hardy air-breathing fish of ponds, ditches, floodplains, and rice fields across South and Southeast Asia. It can survive low oxygen and short overland movements in damp conditions, making it a resilient invasive in some regions.
Identification points
- Dark olive to brown body with a deep, laterally compressed shape
- Long continuous dorsal and anal fins with strong spines
- Large ctenoid scales and a pronounced head profile with a terminal mouth
Habitat
Shallow, warm freshwater habitats with dense vegetation, muddy bottoms, and low dissolved oxygen, including ponds, canals, swamps, floodplain pools, rice paddies, and slow backwaters.
Bait notes
Small worms, maggots, insect larvae, bits of shrimp, dough bait, and tiny bread or rice balls work well. Small jigs, soft plastics, and popping bugs can also take fish in weedy shallows.
Behavior
An opportunistic omnivore that feeds on insect larvae, ছোট crustaceans, worms, algae, and detritus. It is most active at dawn, dusk, and in turbid or weedy cover, and it can gulp air at the surface to endure poor water quality.
Caution
Sharp gill covers and spiny dorsal/anal fins can puncture skin; handle carefully. It is widely introduced and can be invasive, so check local regulations before moving or releasing it.
Fishing notes
Fish very shallow water around reeds, lilies, and edges of rice fields or canals. Use light tackle and small hooks; fish often take bait near the bottom or just under the surface, especially in still, warm water.