Can I keep Archerfish in completely fresh water?

While juveniles are sometimes found in fresh water and may tolerate it temporarily, adult Banded Archerfish require brackish water (SG 1.005-1.015) to thrive. Keeping them in pure fresh water long-term leads to stress, compromised immunity, and a significantly shortened lifespan.

How do I encourage my Archerfish to spit water?

To witness their spitting behaviour, lower your aquarium's water level to leave a 20-30 cm gap at the top. You can gently stick live insects, like crickets, to the glass above the water line, or suspend them from a feeding branch or mesh lid.

Will an Archerfish eat my other aquarium fish?

Yes. Although they are surface-dwelling insectivores by nature, they are highly opportunistic predators. Any fish small enough to fit into their surprisingly large mouths—such as Guppies or Neon Tetras—will eventually be eaten.

Why are my Archerfish constantly fighting each other?

Archerfish establish a strict hierarchy. If kept in small numbers (like two or three), the dominant fish may relentlessly bully the others. Keeping them either completely solitary, or in a larger group of five or more, helps disperse this aggression safely.

BrackishTropicalAdvanced

Banded Archerfish

Toxotes jaculatrix

A fascinating brackish-water predator famously known for shooting jets of water to knock terrestrial insects into the river.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 25 – 30 °C
pH range: 7.5 – 8.5
Hardness: 15 – 30 dGH
Salinity: 1.005 – 1.015 SG
Adult size: 20 – 25 cm
400L minimum for a group, with a large footprint: 400 litres+
Lifespan: 8 – 12 years
Diet: Carnivore/Insectivore
Water flow: gentle to moderate
Preferred setup: Brackish mangrove biotope with a dropped water line to leave 30cm of airspace for jumping and spitting. Secure lid essential.

About the Banded Archerfish

The Banded Archerfish (Toxotes jaculatrix) is arguably one of the most remarkable species in the aquatic hobby. Recognised by its striking vertical wedge-shaped bands and flattened dorsal profile, it has evolved a unique method for hunting above the water line. By pressing its tongue against a specialized groove in the roof of its mouth, it can squirt a precise, high-velocity jet of water to knock unsuspecting insects off overhanging vegetation. In the wild, they inhabit the shaded, tangled margins of mangrove swamps and estuaries across the Indo-Pacific.

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Where Banded Archerfish comes from

Native range

Indo-Pacific, Oceania

Countries / regions

India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Australia

Habitat

Mangrove estuaries, tidal rivers, and shaded coastal waters with fluctuating salinity.

Widely distributed across the Indo-West Pacific, primarily associating with mangrove swamps and river mouths.

Similar species

Smallscale Archerfish
Toxotes microlepis
Primitive Archerfish
Toxotes lorentzi
Mono Argentus
Monodactylus argenteus

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Mono Argentus
Monodactylus argenteus
Shares the same requirement for hard, alkaline, brackish water and grows large enough to avoid being eaten.
Great
Green Scat
Scatophagus argus
A robust, peaceful brackish species that occupies the lower and middle water column, staying out of the Archerfish's way.
Great
Green Spotted Puffer
Dichotomyctere nigroviridis
Thrives in the same brackish conditions, but has a propensity for fin-nipping which may stress the Archerfish.
Compatible with caution
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
Although they can adapt to light brackish water, their small size makes them an immediate food source for adult Archerfish.
Not recommended

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