Archer Fish (Toxotes jaculatrix)
The Archer fish, also known as the “Tailor” or “Gulfstream” fish, is a species of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Toxotidae. It inhabits estuarine and brackish waters of the Indo-Pacific region including India, Indonesia and Australia. The archerfish can reach lengths up to 15 inches but averages around 6-9 inches in captivity. They have an elongated body with a flattened head containing large eyes for better vision on land and in water. Its distinctive features include its beaklike mouth that contains four long teeth which are used for catching prey from above the surface of water such as insects, small frogs and even lizards!
Archerfish use their specialized hunting techniques to capture food items off leaves that line waterways or out of midair by spitting jets of water at them; this behavior is called ‘jawing’ or ‘spitting’. This is one of two hunting techniques they use; they also employ ambush tactics like other fish do – lying motionless until prey swims too close before striking quickly.
In terms of care requirements, these freshwater & brackish fish require soft acidic pH levels between 6 – 8 along with temperatures between 73°F – 82°F (23°C – 28°C). They should be kept in an aquarium no smaller than 30 gallons with plenty swimming room because these active swimmers love open space to dart about in their search for food! Although omnivorous by nature, it is important to feed them foods rich in protein such as bloodworms & shrimp along with Spirulina pellets & vegetable matter . As members of the carp family they will benefit from some plant material added into their diet which helps maintain healthy digestive systems while providing extra nutrition.
When it comes to tank mates , archers tend not get aggressive towards others due mainly because they’re more focused on hunting than showing territoriality but should still only be kept with compatible species such as tetras & gourami’s due to size variations amongst different types available within pet stores today . A few hardy plants round off this perfect environment but beware: these crafty hunters may mistake live specimens for food so plastic varieties are recommended instead !
These beautiful creatures make a great addition to any home aquarium set up due its unique hunting technique plus activity level making it both fun watching yet educational all at same time – what more could you ask for?!