The main distribution areas of archerfish are India, New Guinea, Australia, the Philippines, Southeast Asia, Oceania, the Red Sea, China and Thailand. Archerfish lives in shallow lakes, fresh water and brackish water. There it can be found in estuaries and lagoons of mangrove forests and mangrove swamps with dense vegetation. Archerfish can survive in fresh and salt water with temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees centigrade. In almost all cases archerfish can be found near the water surface to practice its predatory habits.
| Closest relatives |
Perch family, archerfish (7 species) |
| Habitat |
Brackish water in lagoons and estuaries, mangroves, tolerates large fluctuations in water temperature and salinity |
| Behaviour |
diurnal, solitary, young fish in small groups |
| Venomousness |
non-toxic |
| Diet |
mostly still living invertebrates such as flies, grasshoppers, ants |
| Body length |
up to 25 cm |
| Spawn |
up to 150,000 eggs |
| Use |
fishkeeping, meat, as fish feed in aqua farms |
| Current status |
abundant, stock trends unclear |
| At Zurich Zoo since |
2016 |
Sponsors
|
Master Management AG, Zumikon |
|
Master Management AG, Zumikon |
|
St. Würzer, Gossau ZH |
|
A. + S. + B. + J. Klink, Sursee |
|
A. Humbel, Wiesendangen |
|
Master Management AG, Zumikon |
|
A. Winkler, Burgdorf |
|
S. Spahr + Ch. Witzig, Bottmingen |
|
Master Management AG, Zumikon |
|
K. Walder-Kämpfer, Bern |
|
S. Bächli, Adliswil |
|
Master Management AG, Zumikon |
