Banded Archerfish
Toxotes jaculatrix
Brackish South-east Asia
Famed for spitting precise water jets at overhead branches to shoot down insects, this surface hunter prefers brackish conditions as it matures. An escape-proof lid is mandatory, and a lowered water line allows keepers to witness its natural hunting behaviour. Feed floating insect foods, krill, and small meaty pellets.
Also called: Banded archerfish, Archer fish, Archerfish.
Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 4 fish added.
What it needs
| Item | Value | Because |
|---|---|---|
| Adult length | 20 cm | Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round. |
| Smallest tank | 300 L, at least 120 cm long estimated | The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group. |
| Extra water per added fish | 50 L estimated | What each further fish adds once the minimum is met. |
| Waste load | Class 3 of 5 estimated | How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check. |
| Temperature | 24 to 28 C | Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges. |
| pH | 7.2 to 8.2 | Compared with tankmates in the Water check. |
| Hardness | GH 10 to 25, KH 6 to 15 | Degrees of general and carbonate hardness. |
| Flow | Low | Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current. |
| Light | Moderate | Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet. |
| Group size | At least 4, ideally 6 | Kept alone or in small numbers it hides, fades or turns on tankmates. |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Territorial: weak. |
| Swims in | Upper water | Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily. |
| Lifespan | About 8 years | A fish is a long commitment. |
| Experience | Some experience helps | A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes. |
| Jumps | Yes | Keep the tank covered. |
Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.
Diet and tank layout
Banded Archerfish is an carnivore that swims in the upper water. It is safe with plants. Give it some cover. It will eat fish small enough to swallow.
Tankmates
Works with
No close matches in the data. Check the pair tool.
Depends
Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.