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PERCHES
TOXOTIDAE FAMILY
The Toxotidae or Archerfish family is made up of a single genus and six species. Archerfishinhabit brackish water along the coast of Australia and Asia.Archerfish are known for their habit of shootingdown prey with a stream of water.
Seven-Spot Archerfish
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Toxotes chataeus
SYN
:
Coiuschataeus
PD
: The fish is moderately elongated and laterally compressed with a pointed head. Theeyes are large and set fairly far forward.The cleft mouth points toward the surface. The dorsal and anal fins are situatedfar back on the body.The body is yellow-green to white while the back is darker. The body is marked with seven blackspots, which may fade with age.The caudal fin is yellow to green in color, while the rear parts of the anal and dorsalfins are black.
SIZE
: To 12" (30 cm)
SS
: Other Archerfish.
HAB
: Found in brackish water estuaries and mangrove swamps. Southeast Asia and Australia;India, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam.
S: top
TANK
: 40" (100 cm) or 45-55 gallons (170-209 L). Follow suggestions for
T. jaculatrix.
WATER
: pH 7-8 (7.5), 10-18 dH (12), 77-88°F (25-31°C). A 1-2% addition of salt is required.Add 7.5-15 tsp. of salt to every 10 gallons (10-20 g/10 L).
SB
: As for
T.jaculatrix.
SC
: Monos, Scats, Puffers,
Arius
catfish, Mudskippers
FOOD
:Takes food from the surface.Live: Insects; flies, spiders, crickets, mosquitoes, grasshoppers,beetles, cockroaches, meal worms; worms; insect larvae; crustaceans; small surface fish. May occasionally takes flakes and pellets.
SEX: Unknown
B
: Unknown, most likely similar to
T. jaculatrix.
BP
: 10.Has not been bred in captivity.
R
: See
T.jaculatrix.
DC
: 6.This brackish water species requires live foods.
Archerfish
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Toxotes jaculatrix
SYN
:
Labrusjaculatrix, Sciaena jaculatrix, Toxotes jaculator
PD
: The Archerfish is moderately elongated and laterally compressed with a pointed head. Theeyes are large and set fairly far forward.The large, deeply cleft mouth points upward toward the surface. Thedorsal and anal fins are situated far back on the body. The body is silver to white and marked with 4-6 black bandsthat run vertically from the top of the back to the middle of body. The first runs through the eye whilethe last runs across the caudal penuncle.Some fish may be marked with irregular yellow markings. Thecaudal fin is silver to yellow in color, while the anal fin is black.
SIZE
: To 10" (25 cm)
SS
: Other
Toxotes
species.
HAB
: Found in brackish water (occasionally fresh) estuaries and mangrove swamps. SoutheastAsia and Australia; India, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, to the Soloman Islands.
S: top
TANK
: A tank measuring 40" (101 cm) with a capacity from 45-55 gallons (170-209 L) is minimal,with larger tanks being preferred.Archerfish prefer tanks at one-half to three-fourths full. Useplants that grow above the water surface that can tolerate brackish water. Provide hiding places with heavily plantedareas, rocks, roots, and wood.Leave some open swimming areas.
WATER
: pH 7-8 (7.5), 10-18 dH (12), 77-88°F (25-31°C). A 1-2% addition of salt is required. Add7.5-15 tsp. of salt to every 10 gallons (10-20 g/10 L).
SB
: The Archerfish may be skittish when kept with larger fish.Archerfish form schools and shouldbe kept in groups.Avoid combining Archerfish of different sizes as they may lack cohesion, with larger fishharassing smaller ones.A peaceful, calm fish recommended for a brackish water community tank.
SC
: Monos, Scats, Puffers,
Arius
catfish, Mudskippers
FOOD
:Takes food from the surface.Live: Insects; flies, spiders, crickets, mosquitoes, grasshoppers,beetles, cockroaches, meal worms; worms; insect larvae; crustaceans; small surface fish. May occasionally takes flakes and pellets.
SEX: Unknown
B
: Breeding has been accomplished accidentally on a few occasions. The pair spawns close to the surfaceand about 3000 floating eggs are laid.The eggs should be transferred to a rearing tank where they hatch in12 hours. Feed young small insects and live food that can be taken from water surface.
BP
: 10.Breeding has only been accomplished on a few occasions and details are little.
R
:Archerfish have the ability to shoot stream of water from their mouth to knock insectsand small animals from plants above the water.They have excellent eye sight and spend the daytime hours patrollingjust below the water surface for prey.When an insect is spotted, the fish takes aim, with the tip of itssnout just above the water surface, and shoots. The stream of water usually will find its target, knocking theinsect into the water.The Archerfish has incredible accuracy-over 99% of shots of adult fish hit their targets. Theway the Archerfish is able to shoot down its prey is actually fairly simple. The tongue and the roof of the mouthform a tube that measures about 1/16" in width.When the mouth is filled with water, the sudden closure of the gillsforces water through the tube and out of the mouth.The fish can control the duration and the range-up to 5 feet (1.5 m)-ofthe water stream.Young individuals learn how to shoot when about 1" (2.5 cm) long, but lack the characteristicaccuracy of adult fish.Accuracy and range increases with size and age.
DC
: 6.The Archerfish is a robust, interesting brackish water species that requires a diet oflive foods.
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