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Climbing Perch

Anabas testudineus

Freshwater South-east Asia

A legendary labyrinth fish famed for using its spiny gill plates to drag itself across land. In captivity it is tough, predatory, and surprisingly capable of escaping. A tightly sealed lid is completely mandatory, and all tankmates must be too big to swallow.

18 cm adult length, drawn to scale. torpedo body.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 1 fish added.

What it needs

ItemValueBecause
Adult length 18 cm Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank 150 L, at least 100 cm long estimated The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish 50 L estimated What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load Class 3 of 5 estimated How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature 22 to 30 C Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH 6.5 to 8 Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness GH 5 to 20, KH 4 to 15 Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow Low Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light Dim Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size Single fish is fine Not a schooling species.
Temperament Semi-aggressive Territorial: weak.
Swims in All levels Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan About 8 years A fish is a long commitment.
Experience Suits a first tank A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.
Jumps Yes Keep the tank covered.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Diet and tank layout

Climbing Perch is an carnivore that swims in all levels of the tank. It is safe with plants. Give it plenty of cover. It will eat fish small enough to swallow.

Tankmates

Works with

Depends

Avoid

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.