Archerfish
Toxotes chatareus
The Brackish Sniper (15 inches / 40 cm). The Archerfish shoots water bullets to knock insects out of the sky. But it is a nightmare to house correctly. It needs a massive Brackish water Paludarium.
Wassertemperatur
24 - 28 °C
pH-Wert
7 - 8.5
Wassertyp
Süßwasser
Tankfüllstand
Oberfläche
Erwachsenengröße
35 cm
Mindesttankvolumen
200 L
Mindestgruppe
>= 1
GH
10 - 30 dGH
KH
5 - 15 dKH
TDS
200 - 600 ppm
Leitfähigkeit
313 - 938 uS/cm
Artbeschreibung
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Indo-Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia (India to Australia). Inhabits huge tidal mangrove estuaries, but unlike others, it pushes hundreds of kilometers inland into purely freshwater rivers.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Largescale Archerfish (Toxotes chatareus). It possesses the famous modified mouth (the palate has a deep groove used as a "gun barrel" in combination with the tongue) and large binocular eyes positioned almost on the snout.
Social Behavior: The water sniper. Gregarious as a juvenile, in adulthood (35 cm / 14 inches!) it becomes solitary. Spends its life peering over the surface of the water. If it spots an insect on a leaf outside the aquarium, it shoots a perfect jet of water (which also calculates light refraction) hitting it and knocking it down.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Shiny silver/olive green background (not to be seen from below). Compared to the common Archerfish (jaculatrix) which has separate black bands, the chatareus features conspicuous black spots or bands that join in a checkerboard pattern on the back. There is no dimorphism.
Pflege, Zucht und Mitbewohner
Aquarium Setup: Huge Paludarium Aquarium (Minimum 150 cm / 60 inches x 70H). This fish makes no sense in a filled closed tank. It needs a Paludarium: fill only half the tank (25 cm / 10 inches) with water and leave huge emerged mangrove branches where to trigger its predatory behavior (shoot jets for 1-2 meters / 3-6 ft).
Diet and Feeding: Hunting Insectivore. Eats 90% of the time insects and spiders that fall or that it "shoots down" from the vegetation. In captivity, stick mealworms or crickets on branches out of the water to make it "shoot" and make it happy. Eats pellets only as a fallback.
Water Quality: Euryhaline and tolerant. The chatareus tolerates indistinctly hard freshwater or heavily brackish water, but produces a considerable load of waste. Robust filtration but without violent surface currents (so as not to disturb its "aim").
Compatibility and Cohabitation: To be paired with medium/large tankmates in brackish water (Scatophagus, Monodactylus). Mercilessly devours any small fish (Guppy) that crosses its path near the surface. Can fight fiercely with conspecifics if in limited space.
Aquarium Breeding: Never documented in home systems, except through hormonal induction in gigantic lagoons in Asia.
Risks and Diseases: Lid Blindness. The most fatal mistake: keeping it in a 200L (50G) tank closed to the brim with a plastic/glass lid at the water level. The fish will constantly bang its lips trying to "shoot" the light fixture (or reflections), stressing itself out and developing abrasions on the snout or cataracts (infections) that will condemn it to death.
Geografische Herkunft und Verbreitung
Indo-Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia (India to Australia). Inhabits huge tidal mangrove estuaries, but unlike others, it pushes hundreds of kilometers inland into purely freshwater rivers.
Ursprung
Tropische Ozeane und RiffeNordamerikaSüd- und SüdostasienAustralien, Neuguinea und Ozeanien
Fischprofil
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- While generally well-behaved, The Largescale archerfish possesses a semi-aggressive streak that requires careful tank mate selection. They will fiercely defend their chosen territory, especially during feeding or breeding times, but usually ignore fish that stay out of their way. Providing a large enough aquarium with distinct visual boundaries helps mitigate most aggressive tendencies.
- Diät
- Omnivore
- The Largescale archerfish is a specialized insectivore, naturally feeding on insects that fall onto the water surface or live among aquatic vegetation. Their diet in the aquarium should heavily feature live or frozen insects, such as fruit flies, bloodworms, and mosquito larvae. While they can be trained to accept floating pellets, natural insect prey remains crucial for their digestion and vitality.
- Lebenserwartung
- 5-10 years
- Erwachsenengröße
- 35 cm
- Geschlechterverhältnis
- Pair
- Males and females of The Largescale archerfish are nearly identical in appearance, making visual sexing extremely challenging outside of the breeding season. During spawning, females may appear slightly plumper, while males might develop slightly more intense coloration or specific breeding tubes. When keeping a group, a balanced mix is natural, though purchasing a larger group and letting pairs form organically is the best approach.
- Fütterungsfrequenz
- Twice daily
- Since The Largescale archerfish feeds primarily at the surface, offering food in small, frequent amounts throughout the day mimics their natural foraging behavior. They should be fed two to three times daily, focusing on floating items that stay at the surface. Care must be taken to remove any uneaten food quickly to prevent water spoilage.
- Bioload
- High
- The Largescale archerfish is known for producing a significant amount of waste, placing a high demand on the aquarium's filtration system. Heavy mechanical and biological filtration is absolutely critical to process the ammonia output safely and efficiently. Frequent and substantial water changes are an unavoidable part of keeping this species healthy in the long term.
- Fluss
- Stagnant
- Originating from moderately flowing streams and rivers, The Largescale archerfish appreciates a steady but not overpowering water current. The flow should be sufficient to ensure good oxygenation and even temperature distribution throughout the tank. Providing areas of both moderate flow and resting zones with lower flow will allow the fish to choose their preferred environment.
- Sprungrisiko
- Yes
- The Largescale archerfish is an excellent jumper and is well known for leaping out of the water to catch prey or escape predators in the wild. Even the smallest gap in the aquarium canopy can be exploited, leading to a tragic outcome. A completely secure, heavy, and tightly fitting lid or mesh screen is an absolute necessity for this species.
- Reproduktion
- Oviparous
- Reproduction in The Largescale archerfish involves the scattering of pelagic eggs directly into the water column, usually during the rainy season in their natural habitat. They do not exhibit any parental care, and the eggs are left to drift with the current until they hatch. Breeding them in captivity is incredibly difficult and rarely achieved without specialized hormonal treatments and massive breeding vats.
- Kompatibilität & Tankkameraden
- Semi-aggressive
- This species can be somewhat territorial, especially towards conspecifics or similar-looking fish. They should be kept with robust fish that occupy different water levels to minimize aggressive encounters. Providing plenty of visual barriers like plants and driftwood will help reduce tension within the aquarium.
- Tankfüllstand
- Top
- The Largescale archerfish spends the vast majority of its time patrolling the upper levels of the water column, often just below the surface. They rely on their upward-facing mouths to snatch food from the water's edge or even above it. Floating plants can provide them with a sense of security while they hunt and rest in this specific zone.
Wissenschaftliche Modelle & Parameter
FishBase
Zugang zu den offiziellen wissenschaftlichen Daten der Art
FishBase v25.04Daten synchronisiert am: 15.06.2026
- Trophäenniveau
- 4 ± 0,5 se
- Belastbarkeit
- Mittel (1,4 - 4,4 Jahre)
- Generierungszeit
- 3,5 Jahre
- Phylogenetische Einzigartigkeit (PD50)
- 0.5156
- Bayessche Längen-Gewichts-Beziehung
- a = 0.0166, b = 3
- AnfälligkeitMäßige Anfälligkeit (35 / 100)
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