Golden Climbing Perch

[modestly_priced_receptacl]

Many years ago I picked some up at a LFS, but I had to give them away when I moved for school. I really enjoyed keeping them, and was looking to get some more now that I've settled down. But, I can't seem to find them for sale anywhere in the US. As far as I can tell, they are not illegal, at least where I live (cold-water state), and are a pretty common species in their native range, so can't imagine they have become endangered or anything like that.

Anyone know if they are still sold anywhere?

Edit: I am talking about Anabas Testudineus

 

[krichardson]

I haven't seen any around in quite some time.

 

[Fishman Dave]

They are certainly still available and on sale in the uk although not a hugely popular fish, probably due to its drab coloration relative to ctenapoma, but I would assume should still therefore be found available in us.

 

[Fishman Dave]

To be fair though I was a bit quick replying, we do just tend to get the normal drab grey variety rather than the golden one of the same.

 

[Midwater]

I've got a drab grey one, but I really like it.

 

[wednesday13]

Pretty positive there considered invasive here in the US and illegal to possess

 

[Milingu]

The golden strain was available in Europe a few years ago. But they looked quite drab compared to the yellow form which I believe is a totally different mutation.

The golden ones available looked like this

The yellow ones look like this.

 

[modestly_priced_receptacl]

Pretty positive there considered invasive here in the US and illegal to possess

I thought this could be the case, but I have not found any evidence of it. Also, a lot of things are considered invasive in Florida and California that are legal in the Pacific NW where I live.

 

[modestly_priced_receptacl]

To be fair though I was a bit quick replying, we do just tend to get the normal drab grey variety rather than the golden one of the same.

I have seen some of the drab colored ones for sale online in the UK - although shipping a couple live fish from a retail store across the Atlantic seems cost-prohibitive. I can't find any reason why they would be for sale in the UK but not the US. I get that they are not a popular fish, but there are lots of niche fishes that someone in the country is selling online somewhere.

 

[wednesday13]

I thought this could be the case, but I have not found any evidence of it. Also, a lot of things are considered invasive in Florida and California that are legal in the Pacific NW where I live.

The cold doesn’t always save us for more species… im in Ohio and its becoming one of the worst for legality. I wanna say the climbing perch was on the 2016 lacey act list that was federal for imports. I do agree the info is hard to find which doesn’t make it easy for us.