Cara Bela Ikan Puyu dalam Akuarium: Climbing Perch as a Pet Fish

Here's cara bela ikan puyu dalam akuarium in a nutshell: keep one ikan puyu (climbing perch, Anabas testudineus) or a small group in a 2–3 kaki tank with a heavy, gap-free lid, feed it pellets, worms and insects, and keep only fish of similar size with it, because puyu are tough, greedy and quick to bully. Puyu breathe air, cope with our 26–31°C room temperature easily, and are one of the hardiest fish you can keep. The catch: they can "walk" out of a tank and across the floor.

Most Malaysians know puyu from sawah, ditches and the dinner table. As an aquarium fish it's an underrated, characterful choice, especially for a native-fish tank.

Meet the Climbing Perch

• Scientific name: Anabas testudineus
• Malay name: ikan puyu (also puyu-puyu in some places)
• Size: commonly 10–15 cm in tanks; larger in the wild
• Native range: South and Southeast Asia, including Malaysia
• Special feature: a labyrinth organ that lets it gulp air at the surface, like bettas and gouramis

Puyu are famous for crawling short distances over land using their gill covers and fins, especially on wet nights. That's why the name "climbing perch" stuck, and it's why the lid matters so much.

Ikan Puyu Aquarium Care Table

Factor	What ikan puyu need
Temperature	24–32°C; Malaysian room temperature is ideal
Tank for 1 adult	2 kaki (60 × 30 cm, about 55–65 L)
Tank for a small group	3 kaki (90 × 45 cm, about 155–180 L)
Lid	Essential and heavy; no gaps around filter pipes
Water	Very tolerant, but clean water keeps them healthy and colourful
Diet	Omnivore: pellets, worms, insects, small pieces of fish or prawn, some vegetables
Temperament	Semi-aggressive; eats anything that fits in its mouth
Beginner-friendly?	Yes, if you accept it's a fish for its own tank or tough tankmates

Cara Bela Ikan Puyu dalam Akuarium: Setting Up the Tank

1. Tank: 2 kaki minimum for one fish. A group needs more space so the weaker fish can escape the boss. Our tank size guide converts kaki to litres.
2. Lid: use a solid glass or acrylic cover and close every gap. Leave a small air gap above the water, because puyu need to breathe at the surface. A penutup akuarium is not optional.
3. Filter: a hang-on, top filter or canister rated for the tank. Puyu are messy eaters.
4. Substrate and décor: sand or fine gravel, driftwood, rocks and sturdy plants. Puyu may dig and uproot soft plants; anubias, java fern and floating plants are safer bets.
5. Hides: caves and wood break up sight lines and reduce bullying.
6. Tap water: treat with anti klorin before every water change. See our tap water guide.

Do puyu need an air pump?

Not strictly, since they breathe air, but filtration and surface movement still matter for the bacteria in your filter and for any tankmates. A small air pump is cheap insurance.

Ikan Puyu Makan Apa?

Puyu eat almost anything, which makes feeding easy but overfeeding tempting.

Food	Notes
Sinking or floating pellets for medium fish	A good daily staple
Earthworms, bloodworm, crickets	Excellent treats; puyu hunt insects in the wild
Small pieces of prawn or fish	Once or twice a week
Blanched vegetables (peas, spinach)	Occasionally, for fibre
Live feeder fish	Not recommended; disease risk

Feed once or twice a day, as much as they finish in a couple of minutes. Pellets for cichlids and larger fish suit adult puyu well.

Temperament and Tankmates

Puyu are not community fish. They're bold, territorial, and will eat or harass small fish.

Possible tankmates in a large enough tank:

• Similar-sized, robust fish such as larger gouramis, barbs or other puyu
• Sturdy catfish and loaches that look after themselves

Avoid: guppies, tetras, rasboras, shrimp, bettas and any slow, long-finned fish.

If keeping a group of puyu, add them together at the same size, give plenty of hides, and watch for one fish being chased constantly.

Ikan Puyu Jantan dan Betina: Telling the Sexes Apart

Sexing puyu is not easy, especially in young fish.

• Females are usually a little larger and rounder in the belly, especially when carrying eggs.
• Males tend to be slimmer, and some keepers note slightly darker fins in breeding condition.
• The most reliable way is to watch behaviour at spawning time.

Puyu scatter floating eggs and give no parental care. Breeding in a home aquarium is possible but uncommon; most puyu are farmed in ponds.

Wild-Caught vs Farm-Bred Puyu

Many people's first puyu comes from a paddy field or drain. If you do this:

• Quarantine it first. Wild fish often carry parasites. Keep it in a separate tank for 2–4 weeks. Read our quarantine tank guide.
• Check for local rules on fishing in the area, and avoid protected areas.
• Expect a wild fish to be skittish at first.

Farm-bred puyu from a seller are usually calmer, already eating pellets, and less likely to bring in disease.

Jangan lepaskan ikan ke sungai. Even though puyu are native, don't release aquarium-kept fish into rivers, drains or ponds. Tank fish can carry diseases to wild populations.

Common Problems

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Fish found on the floor	Gap in the lid	Seal every gap; if it's still moist and moving, return it to the tank quickly
Torn fins on tankmates	Puyu bullying	Separate or rehome the bully
Cloudy water	Overfeeding, small filter	Feed less, upgrade filter
White spots	White spot parasite, often after adding new fish	See our white spot treatment guide

Buying Ikan Puyu on FishyHub

Look for puyu and similar native species under other tropical fishes on FishyHub. Check the fish's size, whether it's farm-bred or wild-caught, whether it's eating pellets, and delivery or self-collect options on each listing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ikan puyu makan apa dalam akuarium? Ikan puyu makan hampir semua jenis makanan. Beri pelet ikan sebagai makanan utama, dan sesekali cacing, cengkerik, udang kecil atau sayur rebus. Jangan beri terlalu banyak supaya air tidak cepat kotor.

Kenapa ikan puyu keluar dari akuarium? Ikan puyu boleh merangkak di darat menggunakan penutup insang dan siripnya. Jika akuarium tidak bertutup rapat, ia akan keluar, terutamanya pada waktu malam. Gunakan penutup yang berat dan tutup semua celah.

Boleh campur ikan puyu dengan ikan lain? Boleh, tetapi hanya dengan ikan yang sama besar dan lasak. Ikan kecil seperti guppy dan tetra akan dimakan atau diganggu.

How long do climbing perch live? With good care, several years. Clean water and a varied diet keep them healthy.

Do ikan puyu need a heater? No. They're native to Malaysia and do well at normal room temperature.

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