How Big Can Climbing Perch Grow? Maximum Weight and Body Length Explained

The turtle-shell climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) is a small fish of the family Anabantidae. It is perennial, lives in groups or alone, is diurnal, and is an omnivorous, partly carnivorous native freshwater fish. So, how big can climbing perch grow?

1. How big can climbing perch grow?

Farmed climbing perch can reach a body length of more than 25 cm. From small fry to 15 cm, growth is rapid and takes only a few months; after 15 cm, growth begins to slow down, and growth rates differ between the sexes.

2. How to keep climbing perch

1. Choosing a suitable aquarium

It is recommended to use an aquarium no smaller than 800 mm×500 mm×450 mm. For 1 pair of broodfish, a large number of submerged and emergent aquatic plants need to be planted, such as: vallisneria, southern maidenhair fern, water fern, duckweed, etc. The turtle-shell climbing perch will nibble on duckweed and some tender aquatic plants.

2. Breeding

During the breeding season, the fish need to be fed large amounts of protein-rich foods: small fish, insects, etc. Breeding behavior mostly occurs during the rainy season or on rainy nights. A quiet and dark environment is one of the important factors for successful breeding. Eggs are laid in several batches, with about 200 buoyant eggs per batch, about 1 mm in diameter. After spawning is finished, the broodfish must be separated from the eggs. The lower limit of water temperature for breeding is about 23°C, and the breeding water temperature should be controlled at 26 to 28°C. Above 30°C, the hatching survival rate clearly declines. Within 24 hours to 72 hours after spawning, the fry hatch out; the hatching time and hatching survival rate are affected by water temperature.

3. Rearing

Newly hatched fry float at the water surface and are about 2.5 mm in body length. The small fry rely on the yolk of the yolk sac for nutrition. After three days they begin to feed, and can be given cooked egg yolk, or first food such as single-celled algae and rotifers. It is necessary to ensure that enough food is fed, feeding 6 times a day. After 10 days, powdered aquarium feed can be added; after 15 days, when the small fish are about 4 mm in body length, brine shrimp can be fed; at one month old, when the small fish are about 1 cm in body length, flake feed can be added; when the small fish grow to 2 cm, the number of feedings can be gradually reduced.

When keeping climbing perch, also note that a variety of foods should be fed to avoid a single food type; the turtle-shell climbing perch will eat many kinds of food, but the digestion of some foods is not good for the fish after eating, so avoid feeding rice, noodles, pork, etc.