Golden Archer Fish

Archerfish are best known for a single trick: they hang just below the surface, take aim at an insect on an overhanging leaf, and fire a jet of water from the mouth to knock it into the water. They compensate for the way light bends at the surface, which is a genuinely remarkable thing for a fish to do. The body is a deep silver-gold wedge, flat-topped along the back, with dark markings down the flank and the eyes set well forward for looking upward.

Aquarium care

• A surface specialist. It needs open water at the top and a gap of air above it.
• Keep the tank tightly covered; it will spit at anything above the water and it jumps.
• Grows into a substantial fish and needs a roomy tank.
• Predatory: anything small enough to swallow will be eaten.
• Takes floating pellets, frozen and live foods.
• Water requirements differ between archerfish species, some brackish and some freshwater. Ask us which we have in before you set up for it.

Suited to an experienced keeper with a large tank and robust, similarly sized tankmates. It is not a community fish for a planted tank.

Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See more in assorted and interesting.