It is a climbing perch. The body color of this fish is affected by the water quality of the waters in which it lives, and is silver-gray or greenish-brown, with lighter-colored flanks and a white belly. There are randomly distributed black spots on the flanks and belly, more pronounced on the back half. There is a dark spot behind the gill cover and a patch on each of the caudal peduncles. The head is broad and flat with a split mouth. There are 16-20 hard dorsal-fin spines; 7-10 soft dorsal-fin bars; 9-11 hard anal-fin spines; and 8-11 soft anal-fin bars. The growth rate of females is two to four times that of males, and the length of the body can reach more than 25 centimeters. This fish often lives in tropical and subtropical rivers and ditches, the bottom of ponds, as well as preferring to inhabit in calm, silty water bodies. It is omnivorous, feeding on large plants, shrimp and fish fry. In the dry season, when the water level is low, can specialize in the organs directly suck air, and can use the pectoral fins to climb on the ground, tenacious.