All fish / Toxotidae

Banded Archerfish

Toxotes jaculatrix

Also known as archerfish, archer fish, banded archer fish, banded archerfish, common archerfish, archer, ปลาเสือพ่นน้ำ, ikan sumpit, テッポウウオ, 射水鱼, 高射炮鱼

A deep-bodied silver fish with bold black bars across the flank, a flat back and an upward-facing mouth built for feeding at the surface. It is kept mainly for its remarkable habit of shooting jets of water to knock insects off leaves and branches above the water.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

25 to 30 °C

pH

7 to 8.5

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Group of 4 or more

Diet

Carnivore: floating pellets, insects such as crickets and flies, bloodworm, brine shrimp and krill

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Brackish

Wild range

Coastal South and Southeast Asia, from India to the Philippines, Indonesia, northern Australia and western Pacific islands

Breeding

Spawning is thought to happen in reefs or coastal waters, with large numbers of floating eggs. It has not been reliably bred in home aquariums, so all trade fish are wild caught.

Good to know

Although often sold as a freshwater fish, adults do best in brackish water and grow large enough to need a big, tall tank with a tight lid. Will eat any fish small enough to fit in its mouth, and is often confused with the similar Toxotes chatareus.