Amino Acid and Fatty Acid Composition of Wild Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus) from Peatland Drainage Waters in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

This study aimed to characterize the amino acid and fatty acid composition of the climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) collected from peatland drainage waters in Tumbang Nusa Village, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Fish samples were analyzed at the Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Gadjah Mada University. Amino acid profiles were determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), while fatty acid composition was assessed by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). The results showed that A. testudineus contained nine essential amino acids, with lysine (0.890%) and leucine (0.596%) as the dominant components, followed by arginine, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, histidine, methionine, and tyrosine. Non-essential amino acids were also detected, with aspartate (1.048%), alanine (0.598%), and glutamate (0.629%) contributing the highest proportions. Fatty acid analysis revealed that oleic acid (43.24%) and palmitic acid (23.76%) were the most abundant, alongside stearic acid (7.78%), lauric acid (5.05%), and myristic acid (4.37%). Importantly, beneficial long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA (2.02%) and DHA (1.12%), were identified, although at relatively low concentrations. Overall, the fatty acid composition was dominated by monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA, 48.82%), followed by saturated fatty acids (SFA, 17.20%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, 1.12%). These findings indicate that A. testudineus from peatland habitats represents a valuable nutritional resource, rich in essential amino acids and health-promoting fatty acids. Unlike previous reports from Bangladesh, Thailand, and Malaysia, this is the first study to provide baseline biochemical data for climbing perch from Indonesian peatland drainage waters, highlighting its novelty and relevance for local food security and aquaculture development.