Climbing Perch
Anabas testudineus
The Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus) is a peaceful fish that's rewarding to keep. Give it a tank of at least 150 litres (40 US gallons), water held at 59-86°F, and a pH of 6.5-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Asia
- East & Southeast Asia
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Climbing Perch Tank Setup
A tank of at least 150 litres (40 US gallons) works well. Keep the water at 59-86°F with a pH around 6.5-7.5, and set up both cover and open swimming space where they spend most of their time (Mid). They reach about 20 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.
What Do Climbing Perches Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Climbing Perch Tank Mates
The Climbing Perch is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. At around 20 cm fully grown, it needs tank mates that can hold their own against its size and appetite. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Climbing Perches Good for Beginners?
Care demand varies by line and setup. Match the care level to how often you actually test and change water.
Climbing Perch - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Climbing Perches need?
Climbing Perches need a tank of at least 150 litres (40 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Climbing Perches need?
Keep them at 59-86°F with a pH of 6.5-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Climbing Perches eat?
Climbing Perches are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Climbing Perches good for beginners?
It depends on the setup. Match Climbing Perches to how often you actually test water and perform maintenance.
Common mistakes with Climbing Perches
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 150 litres (40 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Climbing Perches
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- AxolotlPredator - Axolotl will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
