Climbing Perch


SCIENTIFIC NAME - Anabas testudineus
COMMON NAME - Climbing Perch
SCIENTIFIC CONFUSION? - With several slight colour and morphological differences in Climbing Perch found throughout their natural range it may well be that, in the future, we will see some of these given alternative scientific names.
NATURAL RANGE - Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Southern China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines.
SIZE - 10" (25cm).

Primarily freshwater fish; 25 cm; oviparous; omnivorous (large ones are predatory);
gregarious or solitary; near-bottom dweller. Indigenous, fairly common. Forest and rural streams, canals, drains, ponds and reservoirs.

One of the most celebrated local fishes, Anabas is capable of wandering "cross-country" from one water body to another. It crawls about with its spiky gill covers propped by its pectoral fins. The hind part of the fish twitches violently to propel it forward. Using this method, and when the air is sufficiently humid, it is said to be able to cover several hundred metres per trip.

Despite its common name, Anabas cannot really climb! Some local Malays like to keep climbing perches in their house, believing that they help ward off evil spirits. They are sold in markets for food occasionally. Anabas does not build a bubble-nest, the eggs being scattered and free floating.