From spawning to larvae: a scientist investigates the climbing perch

SEAFDEC scientist Dr. Frolan Aya conducted a study to understand the early development of climbing perch (Anabas testudineus), a tropical freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia. Dr. Aya successfully induced spawning in five female climbing perch. He then recorded the development of the fertilized eggs and the hatched larvae. As the larvae grew, different stocking densities and diet combinations were tested to observe their survival rates.

The study found that hormone injections were effective for breeding climbing perch in captivity, and the hatched larvae showed promising survival rates when fed a combination of live food and a microparticulate diet.

Dr. Aya published these findings in a science article titled, “Reproduction, early development, and larval rearing of the climbing perch Anabas testudineus (Teleostei: Anabantidae) in captivity,” which was published on June 2023 in the journal Philippine Agricultural Scientist. His co-authors were Mr. Reylan Guttierez and Dr. Luis Maria Garcia. You may request for the article here: https://repository.seafdec.org.ph/handle/10862/6449.