FreshwaterBrackish
Banded archerfish
Toxotes jaculatrix
Toxotidae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 30 cm
- Body shape
- Deep-bodied
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 648 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
Native
Lives wild in Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Micronesia, Myanmar (Burma), Palau, and 6 more countries.
More about the species
Description
Occurs primarily in brackish mangrove estuaries, but also penetrates rivers and small streams. Reported to occur near overhanging vegetation on reefs. Usually in small aggregations. Feeds at the surface during daytime on floating debris which includes insects and vegetable matter. It is renowned for its ability to 'shoot down' insect prey by expelling beads of water from its mouth with considerable force and for its remarkable ability to compensate for visual refraction when aiming its shoots; shooting range is about 150 cm. Sold fresh in markets.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Sciaena jaculatrix
- Toxotes jaculator
In other languages
- Skytterfisk
- Sprutfisk, Sprutfisk (djur)
- Almindelig skyttefisk, Skyttefisk
- Ampujakala
- Archer fish, Archerfish, Brackish archerfish, Northern rifle-fish, Riflefish, Silver archerfish
Articles
All articles
Fish that get along4 min read
Temperament, fin nippers, fish that eat other fish, and fish that need the same water. And what the Harmony mark in the app means.
How to set up an Asian aquarium5 min read
Two aquariums from Southeast Asia: calm forest streams and peat swamps with soft, brown water, and fast mountain streams with cool, oxygen-rich water.
How to set up an aquarium from Australia and New Guinea4 min read
The home of rainbowfish: water, substrate, plants and light for rainbowfish, blue-eyes and peacock gudgeons, with a long aquarium and open water in the middle.
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.