Fish profile · Anabantidae

Climbing perch

Anabas testudineus

FoodFreshwaterNative to MalaysiaLeast Concern (IUCN)

Also called Asian climbing perch

The climbing perch is a hardy freshwater fish that can breathe atmospheric air. It inhabits shallow waters and can persist where many other fishes would struggle with low water levels.

Last reviewed 13 October 2026 · 5 sources

Photo of Climbing perch — (c) Ong Jyh Seng, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC BY-SA

Max length: 23 cm
IUCN: LC; Least Concern
In Malaysia: Native
Family: Anabantidae; order Perciformes

Category from the IUCN Red List, via GBIF (CC BY 4.0); it may lag the latest Red List assessment.

How big?

Linear scale · hand 18 cm

Up to 23 cm.

The hand is 18 cm long.

Where in Malaysia

35 open-licence records · GBIF

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Recorded (open records)

Recorded in Sabah, Sarawak, Melaka, Pahang, Pulau Pinang, Perak, Selangor, and Johor. Based on 35 open-licence records on GBIF. Few records can mean few surveys, not few fish.

How to identify

Compact rectangular body with a rounded head
Olive-grey colour, sometimes with dark bars
Dark spots on the gill cover and tail region

Habitat

Lowland rivers Rice fields and canals

Shallow ponds and streams in rural and forested landscapes.

Diet: Omnivorous; food includes small fish and insects.
Native range: South and Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Indonesia.

More photos

Climbing perch, photo 2 — (c) Ong Jyh Seng, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC BY-SA

Climbing perch, photo 3 — (c) Zakqary Roy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY

Sources

Last reviewed 13 October 2026