Climbing perch

Water parameters

Minimum tank: 150 L per individual at harvest size.

Feed and growth

Feed protein

35% target

Daily feed (warm)

2.00% of body weight

Daily feed (cool)

0.50% of body weight

Max density

50 g per litre

A 400 g adult eats about 8.0 g of feed per day at optimum. 10 fish at adult size: ~80 g daily.

Legality

Rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.

Unlisted jurisdictions default to "check local regulations".

Origin and habitat

Native to freshwater habitats across South and Southeast Asia, from India through Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The species (Anabas testudineus) is a labyrinth fish that breathes atmospheric air using a suprabranchial organ, allowing it to survive in near-anoxic water, buried in mud during droughts, and even to 'walk' short distances across damp land using its gill plates and pectoral fins. This overland migration ability and extreme environmental tolerance make it both a resilient culture species and a serious invasive threat outside its native range. Adults reach 15–25 cm and 100–250 g. Climbing perch is a common food fish in rural Southeast Asia, typically caught wild or grown in extensive pond culture. The flesh is white and somewhat bony but is widely consumed in the region.

Climate and outdoor ponds

Climate

tropical (needs warm water year-round)

USDA zones

10–13 (winter low around -1°C or warmer)

Heating needed

yes

Cooling needed

no

Care notes

A tropical, low-tech aquaponics species suited to Southeast Asian conditions. Temperature range: 22–35°C, optimal at 28–32°C. The species thrives in the warm, nutrient-rich water typical of tropical aquaponics systems. Growth is moderate: 100–200 g in 8-12 months on commercial pellet (28-35% protein). FCR is approximately 1.5-2.5 depending on feed quality. The extraordinary environmental tolerance means climbing perch survive conditions that would kill most other fish: dissolved oxygen near zero (they breathe air), wide pH swings, high ammonia, and temporary dewatering. This makes them nearly foolproof for beginners in tropical climates. Stocking density can be high (20-40 g/L) because they tolerate crowding well. The main constraint outside Southeast Asia is legality: climbing perch is classified as a noxious invasive species in Australia and several other countries, and is not available for culture in most Western jurisdictions. The air-breathing and overland-walking ability makes containment difficult, and escapes into local waterways could establish invasive populations in warm climates. Where legal and culturally appropriate (primarily in South and Southeast Asia), climbing perch is a practical, resilient food fish for low-input aquaponics.

Further reading

• Aquaponics water chemistry: balancing pH for fish and plants
• Fish for aquaponics: tilapia vs everything else