Archer Fish - Toxotes Chatareus (No Online Purchases)

Name: Archer Fish / Banded Archerfish - instore pick up only

Scientific Name: Toxotes jaculatrix

Description: A fascinating and unusual fish famous for its ability to shoot jets of water from its mouth to knock insects into the water. Archer Fish have a distinctive silver body with bold black vertical bands and an upward-facing mouth. They are intelligent, active swimmers that make an impressive addition to large aquariums. Best suited to experienced aquarists, Archer Fish thrive in spacious setups with plenty of swimming room and opportunities to display their natural hunting behaviour.

Origin: Indo-Pacific region, including northern Australia, Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Commonly found in mangrove swamps, estuaries and coastal waterways.

pH: Approximately 7.0–8.5

Temperature: Around 24–28°C

Adult Size: Approximately 20–30 cm in aquariums, potentially larger in the wild.

Lifespan: Approximately 5–10 years or longer with proper care.

Food: Carnivorous. Naturally feeds on insects, small fish and aquatic invertebrates. In aquariums, offer a varied diet of insects, crickets, mealworms, prawns, shrimp and quality carnivore pellets. Floating foods are particularly suitable, encouraging their natural surface-feeding behaviour.

Compatibility: Generally peaceful with similarly sized fish but may eat smaller tank mates. Best kept with other Archer Fish or suitable medium to large brackish-water species. Juveniles benefit from groups of five or more, provided the aquarium is spacious enough. Avoid small fish, shrimp and aggressive species.

Habitat: A large, well-filtered aquarium with open swimming space, driftwood, roots and a secure lid, as Archer Fish are capable jumpers. Banded Archerfish naturally inhabit freshwater and brackish environments, although adults are generally best maintained in lightly to moderately brackish conditions. A specific gravity of approximately 1.005–1.015 may be suitable, depending on the fish's origin and acclimation. Use marine aquarium salt rather than ordinary aquarium salt when preparing brackish water. Provide excellent filtration, stable water conditions and adequate space above the waterline to encourage natural feeding behaviour.