New Archer Fish

[MojoDex]

just been and picked up my archer fish that my lfs ordered for me

its meant to be T. jaculatrix my lfs just got it in as an archer fish so if someone could indeed confirm what it is for me that would be great 2

sorry about the pic being a bit dark but didnt want to stress him with the flash

 

[nmonks]

That looks like a lovely specimen of Toxotes microlepis to me. A much better aquarium fish, IMO. Smaller, and less demanding in terms of salinity. Ideally keep in fresh or brackish water to SG 1.005. It will live at higher salinities, but isn't wild about them.

Cheers, Neale

 

[MojoDex]

ive sent you a pm Neale

 

[MojoDex]

after much help from Neale they have now gone into my 680 litre 6' tank instead of the brackish tank, also i went back and bought the rest of them ill get pictures up in the relevent section when there all settled in nicley

thanks again Neale

 

[Dave Legacy]

Here's a link to a post I wrote about archerfish identification: Toxotidae Identification Guide

 

[beechey]

think its the same specices as mine which has been in freshwater for nearly a year now...

 

[Dave Legacy]

After some further analysis of the photographs I'm willing to bet that:

MojoDex = T. jaculatrix
Beechey = T. microlepis


MojoDex, how big is the archer in the photograph you took? When identifying T. jaculatrix I generally go by the rule that thier 2nd "Band" from the tail extends into the dorsal fin (seemingly w/o division). I'm finding now that my T. jaculatrix are reaching lengths of 4"+, the band fades out at the base of the dorsal, giving a faint division in the band, when extended.

We've had the Toxotidae family identification debates to death and every time I think I have my IDs down packed I see a specimen that causes me to question my whole method of identification.

- Dave Legacy

 

[beechey]

dave legacy i keep changing my mind on the species of my fish
as ive got some pics of when i first got him/her when about 2", and his makings have changed a bit and he/she is a lot fatter now aswell must be about 4" maybe 5" now,
i love it when the archer fish does like a yawn and sticks all his top fins out, looks well mean.

 

[MojoDex]

im 99.9999 percent that neale is right looking at the pdf file he sent me and hell the guy has had books published im not argueing with him

but if your interested the archer is about 2" long maybe a little over

 

[nmonks]

I appreciate the vote of confidence, but IDing archer fish is difficult. The two spots on the dorsal fin seem -- according to Allen -- reliable indicators for T. microlepis.

It's also worth noting that at SG 1.005 or so you can keep all three species happily. None of the archers needs very salty water, and certainly not marine conditions. They are quite adaptable animals really.

Cheers, Neale

im 99.9999 percent that neale is right looking at the pdf file he sent me and hell the guy has had books published im not argueing with him

 

[Dave Legacy]

I appreciate the vote of confidence, but IDing archer fish is difficult. The two spots on the dorsal fin seem -- according to Allen -- reliable indicators for T. microlepis.

It's also worth noting that at SG 1.005 or so you can keep all three species happily. None of the archers needs very salty water, and certainly not marine conditions. They are quite adaptable animals really.

Cheers, Neale

im 99.9999 percent that neale is right looking at the pdf file he sent me and hell the guy has had books published im not argueing with him

Yeah, Yeah... Neale's the shiznit. I did fail to acknowledge the two spots on the dorsal fin which are indeed indication of T. microlepis. It can be difficult to tell the difference between the two, especially when the markings are ever so similar.

 

[Darkehorse]

Someone needs to add an archer fish profile to the Oddball section, along with that chart that's floating around the internet that differentiates the different species.

-Darke

 

[Dave Legacy]

Someone needs to add an archer fish profile to the Oddball section, along with that chart that's floating around the internet that differentiates the different species.

-Darke

I'm currently working on some care information to go along with the identification guide. Along with it will be information about caring for, keeping, and breeding feeder insects such as crickets, roaches, etc. It's information you don't typically find associated with archers. Archer care is an interesting topic to write about because everyone seems to do it a little differently, there's really no one way of doing things with a species that's so adaptable.

 

[nmonks]

What chart? Where's it floating?

The only things I know about is the paper by G. R. Allen that includes an identification key of archerfish plus lots of good photos, and my sketches based on that paper. If there are other resources, please let me know about them.

Cheers, Neale

Someone needs to add an archer fish profile to the Oddball section, along with that chart that's floating around the internet that differentiates the different species.

 

[Darkehorse]

Someone needs to add an archer fish profile to the Oddball section, along with that chart that's floating around the internet that differentiates the different species.

-Darke

I'm currently working on some care information to go along with the identification guide. Along with it will be information about caring for, keeping, and breeding feeder insects such as crickets, roaches, etc. It's information you don't typically find associated with archers. Archer care is an interesting topic to write about because everyone seems to do it a little differently, there's really no one way of doing things with a species that's so adaptable.

Great! I do plan on getting an Archer eventually, so that information will prove invaluable for me. Just curious, how much room do you give them from the top of the tank to allow for spitting / jumping? I don't normally have complete lids for my aquariums, so I obviously wanted to make sure they can't jump out onto the floor and die.

-Darke