Banded Archerfish

Toxotes jaculatrix is the most commonly kept archerfish species, found throughout Indo-Pacific mangrove and estuarine habitats. It hunts insects above the water surface by shooting focused streams of water with remarkable accuracy, even accounting for light refraction. In aquaria it readily learns to shoot at food items offered above the waterline.

Water: 25–30 °C, pH 7.5–8.5, specific gravity 1.005–1.015; mangrove-style brackish setup. Tank: 300 L minimum; leave a wide air gap above the water surface for hunting behaviour. Feeding: Carnivorous; crickets, mealworms, and floating pellets; hand-feeding encourages spitting behaviour. Behaviour: Group fish; keep 3+ to reduce inter-species aggression; curious and interactive. Compatibility: Scats, Moonyfish, and large brackish gobies; do not keep with very small fish.