Care and Compatibility of Archerfish - Toxotes jaculatrix


Introduction

The Archerfish is a medium-sized fish with a silver body and dark stripes along its sides. Its most notable feature is its ability to shoot jets of water with precision to knock down insects and other small animals that are above the water surface. It is a fascinating behavior to observe.

Behavior

The Archerfish, scientifically known as Toxotes jaculatrix, is a species of brackish water fish native to Asia and Oceania. It is known for its ability to shoot jets of water to capture prey that are located above the water surface. It is a curious and active fish that can be an interesting addition to an aquarium.

Sexual Dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism in Toxotes jaculatrix is minimal and difficult to distinguish. Both sexes have a similar appearance.

Reproduction

Information about the reproduction of Archerfish in captivity is limited. In their natural habitat, they are believed to be free spawners, and the eggs are deposited on vegetation. Not much is known about breeding this species in home aquariums.

Aquarium Conditions

Toxotes jaculatrix, commonly known as the archerfish, requires a large, well-covered aquarium with brackish water. It prefers warm and brackish waters similar to those found in mangroves. Aquarium décor should include rocks, floating driftwood, and open swimming areas. Maintaining water quality is crucial and providing a varied diet.

Feeding

When it comes to feeding, the Archerfish is carnivorous and primarily feeds on insects and small aquatic animals that are located on the water surface. It can be fed with live food such as fruit flies, crickets, or small fish. It is important to provide prey that is located on the water surface to allow it to exercise its shooting ability.

Complexity

Caring for Toxotes jaculatrix can be challenging. They are hunting fish that require a suitable environment for their natural behavior. They are territorial and can be aggressive towards other fish, especially during feeding. It's recommended to keep them in a species-only tank or with robust companions that can withstand their aggressive behavior.


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To do an analysis more detailed about coexistence and behavior of Toxotes jaculatrix (Archerfish) use the Aquarium simulation tool, if you do this you can test different ways to combine the Archerfish with other fishes giving the dimensions and space on you aquarium, on this way you can known the optimal configuration for keep the fishes that you want.

You can also find out the 69 species compatible with the Toxotes jaculatrix (Archerfish) can live together.

Note: The parameters of the water such as PH and temperature are also used to calculate the compatibility of the species.


Compatible species (69)

Compatible (26 Species)

Compatible without any restriction


Leopard Cactus Pleco - Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Leopard Cactus Pleco

Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Silver Dollar Fish - Metynnis argenteus

Silver Dollar Fish

Metynnis argenteus

Denison Barb - Puntius denisonii

Denison Barb

Puntius denisonii

Flag Cichlid - Mesonauta festivus

Flag Cichlid

Mesonauta festivus

Siamese Algae Eater - Crossocheilus Siamensis

Siamese Algae Eater

Crossocheilus Siamensis

Pearl gourami - Trichogaster leerii

Pearl gourami

Trichogaster leerii

Coolie loach - Pangio kuhlii

Coolie loach

Pangio kuhlii

Suckermouth catfish - Hypostomus plecostomus

Suckermouth catfish

Hypostomus plecostomus

Empire Gudgeon - Hypseleotris compressa

Empire Gudgeon

Hypseleotris compressa

Princess of Burundi Cichlid - Neolamprologus brichardi

Princess of Burundi Cichlid

Neolamprologus brichardi

Mije Fish - Leporinus fasciatus

Mije Fish

Leporinus fasciatus

Stick Catfish - Farlowella acus

Stick Catfish

Farlowella acus

Red Rainbowfish - Glossolepis incisus

Red Rainbowfish

Glossolepis incisus

Altum Angelfish - Pterophyllum altum

Altum Angelfish

Pterophyllum altum

Dragon Violet Goby - Gobioides broussonnetii

Dragon Violet Goby

Gobioides broussonnetii

Golden Royal Pleco - Sturisoma aureum

Golden Royal Pleco

Sturisoma aureum

Sun Catfish - Horabagrus brachysoma

Sun Catfish

Horabagrus brachysoma

Bala Shark - Balantiocheilus melanopterus

Bala Shark

Balantiocheilus melanopterus

Clown Loach - Chromobotia macracanthus

Clown Loach

Chromobotia macracanthus

Gray bichir - Polypterus senegalus

Gray bichir

Polypterus senegalus

Comet Goldfish - Carassius auratus III

Comet Goldfish

Carassius auratus III

Striped Raphael Catfish - Platydoras costatus

Striped Raphael Catfish

Platydoras costatus

Kissing Gourami - Helostoma temminckii

Kissing Gourami

Helostoma temminckii

Boeseman's Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia Boesemani

Boeseman's Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia Boesemani

Freshwater angelfish - Pterophyllum scalare

Freshwater angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Severum Cichlid - Heros efasciatus

Severum Cichlid

Heros efasciatus

Similar Sizes (2 Species)

They can coexist if they are the same size or very similar sizes, it does not work in all cases, there may be exceptions.


Freshwater Eel - Mastacembelus armatus

Freshwater Eel

Mastacembelus armatus

Pangasianodon hypophthalmus - Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

With Reservation (14 Species)

Compatible in some cases, it depends on the nature and personality of the fish.


Kribensis Cichlid - Pelvicachromis pulcher

Kribensis Cichlid

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Fire Fish Dragon Blood - Aulonocara Firefish

Fire Fish Dragon Blood

Aulonocara Firefish

Labidochromis caeruleus - Labidochromis caeruleus

Labidochromis caeruleus

Labidochromis caeruleus

Firemouth Cichlid - Cichlasoma meeki

Firemouth Cichlid

Cichlasoma meeki

Red-tailed Black Shark - Epalzeorhynchus frenatus

Red-tailed Black Shark

Epalzeorhynchus frenatus

Pearl Cichlid - Altolamprologus Calvus

Pearl Cichlid

Altolamprologus Calvus

Lemon Catfish - Hemiancistrus subviridis

Lemon Catfish

Hemiancistrus subviridis

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis eupterus

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis eupterus

Suckermouth Catfish - Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri

Suckermouth Catfish

Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri

Commando Cichlid - Nimbochromis venustus

Commando Cichlid

Nimbochromis venustus

Galaxy Plecostomus - Leporacanthicus sp L240

Galaxy Plecostomus

Leporacanthicus sp L240

Red Terror Fish - Mesoheros festae

Red Terror Fish

Mesoheros festae

Tetraodon Nigroviridis - Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Tetraodon Nigroviridis

It is not advisable to have 2 or more males in the same aquarium.


Archerfish - Toxotes jaculatrix

Archerfish

Toxotes jaculatrix

Considerable size difference (25 Species)

They can coexist while they are similar in size or the size difference is not very abysmal, since as the fish grows it increases the chances of eating its partner that did not grow much.


Nerite Snail - Neritina sp

Nerite Snail

Neritina sp

Clown Pleco - Panaqolus maccus

Clown Pleco

Panaqolus maccus

Royal Pleco - Panaque nigrolineatus

Royal Pleco

Panaque nigrolineatus

Congo Tetra - Phenacogrammus interruptus

Congo Tetra

Phenacogrammus interruptus

Lacustris Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia lacustris

Lacustris Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia lacustris

Preacox Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia preacox

Preacox Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia preacox

Stiphodon Ornatus - Stiphodon ornatus

Stiphodon Ornatus

Stiphodon ornatus

Anentome Helena - Anentome helena

Anentome Helena

Anentome helena

IndoPlanorbis Exustus - Planorbis planorbis

IndoPlanorbis Exustus

Planorbis planorbis

Horned Snail - Tyloperlamania sp

Horned Snail

Tyloperlamania sp

Red Cherry - Neocaridina davidi

Red Cherry

Neocaridina davidi

Amano Shrimp - Caridina multidentata

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Blue Bee Shrimp - Paracaridina sp

Blue Bee Shrimp

Paracaridina sp

Florida Dwarf Crayfish - Cambarellus diminutus

Florida Dwarf Crayfish

Cambarellus diminutus

Red-Backed Tetra - Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Red-Backed Tetra

Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Lemon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Lemon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Otocinclus Catfish - Otocinclus Affinis

Otocinclus Catfish

Otocinclus Affinis

Serpae Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Eques

Serpae Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Eques

Cherry Barb - Barbus titteya

Cherry Barb

Barbus titteya

Filamented Rainbowfish - Iriatherina Werneri

Filamented Rainbowfish

Iriatherina Werneri

Neon tetra fish - Paracheirodon innesi

Neon tetra fish

Paracheirodon innesi

Glowlight Tetra - Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Glowlight Tetra

Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Black Neon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Black Neon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Galaxy Rasbora - Danio margaritatus

Galaxy Rasbora

Danio margaritatus

Compatible if space is enough (2 Species)

They can coexist together if the aquarium they share is large and spacious enough for both species to feel good, as some fish may attack others to feel that they have little space and try to eliminate the competition.


Pez Loro - Red Parrot

Pez Loro

Red Parrot

Frontosa Cichlid - Cyphotilapia frontosa

Frontosa Cichlid

Cyphotilapia frontosa

Archerfish

Toxotes jaculatrix

Archerfish - Toxotes jaculatrix
  • Ph: 7 - 8.5
  • Temperature (c°): 25 - 30
  • Measures: 20 cm - 30cm
  • Aquarium Capacity:
    45 Liters - 12 Gallons
  • Behavior: Peaceful
  • Size: Big
  • Swimming area: Swimming on aquarium surface
  • Water Type: Sweet water