Archer fish

[atomzero]

I know that they need brackish water and shoot water at insects for food. Aside from those parameters, are these very difficult fish to keep? Does anyone have experience with them?

 

[ryan]

No one can fail to be intrigued by a fish that shoots down its prey, and in a public aquarium there is almost always a small crowd of people around the archer fish tank hoping that they will perform!

The 'archer' usually offered for sale is Toxotes jaculatrix a widespread species found from the Gulf of Aden, all around Indian coast, into southeast Asia and even nin northen Australlia. It is yet another fish that will tolerate fresh, brackish and marine conditions. The one thing they won't toelrate is cold: they like water temperature of 25-28C. Many captive specimens are lost because they are kept to cool.

Archers are ideally suited to a paludarium (an aquarium with that has both underwater life abd above water plants). The tank should be large enough to hold four to six fishes (they can reach 20cm/8in or so) and can be planted with species like Java Fern and decorated with wood, which can extend above the waters surface. Out of water, above and to the back of the tank grow some marginal/terrestrail plants which overhang the water, because on this foliage the insects will land so the fish can attempt to shoot them down.

Keep fishes of approximately the same size together as it is quite common for larger specimens to intimidate smaller ones, preventing them from feeding or nipping at their fins. Some people like to keep young Scats and Monos with their archers, but the problems start when the scats and monos grow too large and become too active for the archers liking.

 

[atomzero]

You are the man.

 

[Dwarfs]

No one can fail to be intrigued by a fish that shoots down its prey, and in a public aquarium there is almost always a small crowd of people around the archer fish tank hoping that they will perform!

The 'archer' usually offered for sale is Toxotes jaculatrix a widespread species found from the Gulf of Aden, all around Indian coast, into southeast Asia and even nin northen Australlia. It is yet another fish that will tolerate fresh, brackish and marine conditions. The one thing they won't toelrate is cold: they like water temperature of 25-28C. Many captive specimens are lost because they are kept to cool.

Archers are ideally suited to a paludarium (an aquarium with that has both underwater life abd above water plants). The tank should be large enough to hold four to six fishes (they can reach 20cm/8in or so) and can be planted with species like Java Fern and decorated with wood, which can extend above the waters surface. Out of water, above and to the back of the tank grow some marginal/terrestrail plants which overhang the water, because on this foliage the insects will land so the fish can attempt to shoot them down.

Keep fishes of approximately the same size together as it is quite common for larger specimens to intimidate smaller ones, preventing them from feeding or nipping at their fins. Some people like to keep young Scats and Monos with their archers, but the problems start when the scats and monos grow too large and become too active for the archers liking.

They can live in FW? Another fish on my to get list. Time for some research

 

[ryan]

There is a species that can survive in FW, but the normal species offered for sale should have Brackish water. I do know of people who keep them in FW tanks and they seem to do well, I think there is even a member on here who had them in such a tank but I would advise that they get Brackish water, it is best for the fish. The word tolerate, fresh, brackish and marine water also implies that they can survive but will not thrive! Toxotes jaculatrix the species nearly always offered for sale certainly needs Brackish conditions. Although they can be kept in FW when young it is always advised to transfer them to Brackish water when older for health reasons.

 

[CFC]

I kept Archer fish some years ago and they definately need brackish water, when kept in freshwater their colours become dull and they become lethargic. They seldom shoot at prey when kept in a standard aquarium as they soon learn that food is just dropped into the water, to keep them spitting they need a tank with a large open space above the water with over hanging branches and leaves. To get mine to spit i would take the hood off of the tank and dangle plastic toy bugs over them with a fishing rod

 

[Dwarfs]

ARCHER FISH Off my list