Anabantoids As Food Fish
Several labyrinth fish are important food sources in their native countries. The giant gourami in particular, is highly valued as food fish, due to its size and tender flesh with few spines. This species is farmed extensively in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries and was intentionally introduced in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. During the colonial period, the French attempted to introduce this fish to many of their territories. Although an attempt to introduce a population in southern France failed, the giant gourami became well established in other French colonies. In the late 1880s, there were unsuccessful attempts to introduce the giant gourami to California waters as food fish. In the 1950s, the giant gourami population was established in Hawaii.
Other smaller labyrinth fish, such as the climbing perch, the kissing gourami, the snakeskin gourami, and other gouramies of the genus Trichogaster are local food fish in Southeast Asia. In some areas, the fish are processed into salted and dried food.
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