The climbing perch, also known as Koi (Anabas testudineus), is in high demand in East and North Eastern India. It is one of the most hardy fish. They can flourish in specialized air-breathing organs that use atmospheric air for respiration. Koi, A. testudineus, were bred in a small improvised glass breeding chamber (6 ft ×2 ft ×1 ft), with the brooder within the brood cage. During breeding, floating eggs were automatically segregated from brood cages. It decreases egg losses during breeding, improving breeding effectiveness over open breeding in captivity. After multiple experiments, 0.4ml/kg for females and 0.2ml/kg for males diluted with sterile water 80-90% yields the best results. This minimizes wasted brooder costs and infection and usually releases 100% eggs. Fertilization was 83 ± 0.57 % and hatching was 85.5 ± 0.28 %. Feeding larvae egg yolk, infusoria, tubifex, and mosquito larvae led to 4.4 ± 0.44 g weight increase and 4.8 ± 0.1 cm length gain in 90 days, with a 22% survival rate

Koi, Anabas testudineus, breeding, glass chamber, larval rearing, captivity

The study offers a comprehensive examination of the breeding and larval rearing practices for the climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) using a specialized glass breeding chamber. Within this setup, the strategic placement of a breeding cage proves advantageous in breeding. It streamlines the process of separating eggs from the brooder post-breeding, significantly enhancing egg efficiency compared to conventional open breeding systems. This innovation not only optimizes production levels but also simplifies the rearing of larvae by low-cost feed within the controlled environment of the chamber. Moreover, the utilization of this system provides a unique advantage point to closely observing the intricate breeding and spawning behaviours of the climbing perch. By facilitating easier egg and spawn collection. What is particularly noteworthy is the cost-effectiveness of this setup, coupled with its compact design, rendering it accessible even in limited-space environments. Beyond its practical applications, the study also described morphological development stages during the early life of the climbing perch

Chirantan Jana, Shriparna Saxena, B.K. Mahapatra and Deepak Kher (2024). Breeding and Larval Rearing of Koi, Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792) in an Improvised Technique. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(6): 185-188