Banded Archerfish, lat. Toxotes jaculatrix- Toxotes jaculatrix distribution
Family: Toxotidae;
Genus: Toxotes;
Species and synonyms: Banded Archerfish (Toxotes jaculatrix, Banded Archerfish, Archerfish, Riflefish).
GBIF:
Banded Archerfish (lat. Toxotes jaculatrix) is a species of ray-finned fish from the order Perciformes, family Toxotidae, genus Toxotes. Famous for its unique ability to knock down prey with a jet of water.
Distribution. The natural range of the Banded Archerfish covers coastal waters and estuaries from India and Sri Lanka to Southeast Asia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the Philippines. The fish prefer brackish waters with mangrove forests and dense vegetation, often found in river mouths, lagoons and coastal estuaries. It has been recorded as an introduced species in some countries.
Care requirements. The Banded Archerfish is a fish that grows up to 15–20 cm in the aquarium and up to 25–30 cm in the wild. To keep a school (3–5 specimens), an aquarium of at least 200 liters with a length of 120 cm is recommended. It is important to provide a high water level with open space above the water for "shooting". Optimal water parameters: temperature 25–30°C, hardness 8–20 dGH, pH 7.0–8.5. Powerful filtration with moderate flow, good aeration and weekly water changes of 20–25% are necessary. Water should be brackish (specific gravity 1.005–1.010, or 5–10 g of salt per liter) to maintain fish health. Sandy substrate, driftwood, stones and shelters are placed at the bottom. Plants should be hardy with tough leaves.
Archerfish are predators, feeding on insects, spiders and small crustaceans in the wild, shooting them down with a jet of water from branches and leaves above the water. In the aquarium, their diet should consist of live and frozen foods (crickets, flies, insect larvae, small fish, shrimp). They can also be trained to accept frozen and dry foods that fall on the water surface. It is important to provide protein-rich food. Feed should be 1–2 times a day in small portions, periodically placing food above the water to stimulate natural behavior.
In the aquarium, archerfish are active in the upper water layers. They are peaceful towards fish of similar size, but may eat small fish. Recommended tankmates include other archerfish, large mullets, catfish, livebearers from brackish waters (mollies), scats, other fish capable of living in brackish water. It is not recommended to keep them with slow-moving or too small fish.
Breeding in home aquariums is extremely difficult and rarely occurs in hobby aquariums. Archerfish spawn on plants or other substrates, eggs develop in brackish water. Sexual differences are weakly expressed. In the aquarium hobby, breeding is not usually practiced; most fish come from the wild.
The Banded Archerfish gets its name from its characteristic ability to "shoot" a jet of water, pushing it through its mouth to hit insects at a height of up to 2–3 meters. It is one of the most intelligent and amazing fish to keep. Life expectancy is 8–10 years.