Of the countless fish that inhabit oceans and rivers around the world, few capture people’s imaginations quite like archerfish. Archerfish employ a remarkable hunting strategy – they actually shoot down land-based insects and other prey by spitting jets of water up to several meters. Keep reading to learn all about these fascinating fish and their impressive aquatic archery skills.
What are Archerfish?
Archerfish comprise a family of seven species belonging to the genus Toxotes. They are brackish water fish native to mangrove swamps and estuaries in tropical regions of Southeast Asia, Australia, and Polynesia.
The most popular archerfish species kept in home aquariums are:
- Banded archerfish (Toxotes jaculatrix)
- Largescale archerfish (Toxotes blythii)
- Seven-spot archerfish (Toxotes chatareus)
Archerfish typically grow to 6-10 inches long and exhibit silver and black bands or spots over a yellowish background. Their most distinguishing feature is their specialized mouths and grooves underneath their eyes that allow them to spit water.
Where Archerfish Live in Nature
In the wild, archerfish inhabit the brackish waters of mangrove forests and river outlets where freshwater mixes with seawater. They tend to dwell beneath overhanging branches and vegetation lining the water’s edge.
Here the fish waits to target insects, spiders, and other small prey resting on leaves and branches above the surface. When an unsuspecting land animal draws near, the attack begins!
Archerfish are found in tropical and sub-tropical climates such as:
- Coastal rivers in Indonesia, Philippines, and Papua New Guinea
- Northern Australian waterways and swamplands
- Mangrove estuaries in India, Southeast Asia, and Polynesian islands
Their distribution mirrors that of mangrove forests, which provide an ideal habitat for their remarkable hunting abilities.
The Archerfish’s Hunting Method is Amazing
The archerfish has perfected a strategy to capture land-based insects and small animals by shooting them into the water using a speedy jet of water expelled from their mouths. This ingenious process allows the fish to feed on prey not accessible to most aquatic animals.
Their incredible hunting process involves the following steps:
- The archerfish spots prey resting on an overhanging branch at the surface of the water.
- Swimming beneath the target, the archerfish presses its tongue against the groove underneath its eye, forming a tube.
- By quickly snapping its gills shut, the fish builds pressure and releases a rapid stream of water through this tube directly at the prey.
- The archerfish can alter the power and angle of shot based on distance to successfully hit the target, knocking it into the water.
- Once the victim hits the water, the archerfish zooms up to gulp down its disoriented meal.
Researchers have recorded archerfish shooting water jets at prey nearly 5 meters above the water’s surface with impressive accuracy. Few hunters in the natural world employ tools and techniques as unique as the crafty archerfish.
Archerfish Have Specialized Anatomy for Marksmanship
Archerfish possess specialized physical adaptations tailor-made for their unconventional hunting style:
- Eyes – Their eyes are placed high and close together on the head giving excellent binocular vision to pinpoint targets.
- Mouth – The small mouth can form a narrow oval shape and seals tightly to build water pressure and aim streams.
- Grooves – Channels underneath the eyes allow water to flow in a more focused jet when the fish presses its tongue to the groove.
- Fins – Their dorsal and anal fins are located rearward allowing quick vertical movements to track and shoot down prey above.
- Buoyancy – A modified swim bladder helps keep their bellies near the surface for improved firing accuracy upwards.
The archerfish’s physical features allow it to excel as an elite aquatic marksman compared to other fish.
Archerfish Have Interesting Behaviors
In addition to their singular hunting techniques, archerfish also display other fascinating behaviors:
- Schooling – Archerfish often travel together in small schools of 4-6 fish, allowing them to hunt cooperatively.
- Territories – Each archerfish stakes out an individual hunting territory under vegetation where prey is abundant.
- Taking turns – When multiple archerfish are hunting, they will take turns spitting at prey rather than tiring themselves out.
- Learning – Young archerfish learn to aim better over time by practicing on fixed targets instead of live prey at first.
- Squabbling – Fish will fight to gain better hunting spots and will sometimes steal prey shot down by another archerfish.
Observing archerfish interact is an enriching experience for aquarists due to their range of behaviors.
The Role of Archerfish in Nature
Although a relatively small fish, archerfish fill an important niche in their native habitats. For example:
- They control insect populations that would otherwise explode and damage vegetation. This makes them a keystone species.
- Their constant shooting activity trims back overhanging branches, promoting healthier plant growth near the water.
- Archerfish are food sources for larger predators like crocodiles, birds, snakes, and bigger fish.
- By spitting insects into the water, nutrients and biomass from land are transferred into aquatic ecosystems.
So while archerfish are not apex predators themselves, their ecological influence is quite significant in the brackish waters they inhabit.
Caring for Archerfish in Home Aquariums
Archerfish’s intriguing behaviors make them popular additions to fish collections. Here are some care essentials for keeping archerfish healthy in captivity:
- Tank Size – A 30 gallon or larger tank is recommended. Archerfish are active swimmers that grow to 6-10 inches.
- Water Conditions – Being brackish water fish, they require slightly salty water around SG 1.005-1.010. The pH should be 7.0-8.0.
- Diet – Offer a varied diet including frozen meaty foods like brine shrimp and mosquito larvae along with high quality flakes and pellets.
- Decor – Driftwood branches protruding above the water make perfect targets for archerfish to practice their shooting skills.
- Tankmates – Many compatible brackish community fish can cohabitate with archerfish, like monos, scats, mollies, and gobies. Avoid nippy species.
- Breeding – Archerfish are difficult to breed in home aquariums. Success usually requires a large mangrove-style setup designed to mimic their natural habitat.
While not the easiest fish for beginners, archerfish are wonderfully engaging pets when provided the proper habitat, salinity, nutrition, and tankmates. Their one-of-a-kind hunting behaviors are unmatched in the aquatic world. With the right care, archerfish can thrive for 5+ years in home aquariums, constantly showing off their superbly accurate water spitting skills.
