Toxotes jaculatrix
| Common Names: | Archerfish Sciaena jaculatrix |
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| Family: | Toxotidae |
| Category: | OthersFW |
| Distribution: | Australia; In fresh and brackish mangroves of Northern Australia and South Eastern Asia. |
| Main Ecosystem: | River; River |
| Temperament: | Predatory; Predatory towards smaller surface fish. Otherwise generally peaceful towards tankmates. It is recommended that the Archerfish be kept in a small school though a very large aquarium would be required. |
| Diet: | Carnivore; Carnivore |
| Care: | In the wild the Archerfish feeds exclusively on small insects that it shoots down from plants by spitting a stream of water. In an aquarium the Archerfish can be trained to shoot down insect placed between the water and the glass lid. They can also be trained to take live and frozen worms. Flake food is sometimes accepted but will not provide sufficient protien. A large surface area is recommended, though the aquarium need not be deep. Primarily a brackish water species, a mature Archerfish will |
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| Potential Size: | Male: 30cm (11.8") Female: 30cm (11.8") |
| Water Region: | Surface; Surface |
| Activity: | Diurnal; Diurnal |
| Gender: | Not possible to determine. |
| Breeding: | The Archerfish has not been bred in an aquarium. |
| Variants: | As of recently, this species can be found in a gold color morph, which also lacks the usual vertical bands. |
| Comments: | The Archerfish posseses the ability to compensate for refraction at the surface of the water. The maximum distance of an accurate shot of water is thought to be 1.5 metres (5 feet). |
| Main Colours: | Silver, Yellow, Black |
| Markings: | Not Specified |
| Mouth: | Upturned |
| Tail: | Flat |
| Search: | Show similar species Find compatible species |
| Image Credit: | © FishProfiles.com |
| Submitted By: | Adam |
| Contributors: | zachf92 |
| History: | View changes to this profile |
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