The Burmese Archerfish (Toxotes blythii) is widely considered the most beautiful member of the archerfish family. Native to the clear freshwater rivers and estuaries of Southern Myanmar (Burma), it brings one of the animal kingdom's most unique hunting skills directly into your home aquarium.

The Water Jet Hunter

Members of the Toxotidae family (archerfish or spinner fish) are famous worldwide for their extraordinary hunting technique. They use a highly specialized mouth structure—pressing their tongue against a groove on the roof of their mouth to form a tube—to squirt powerful, targeted jets of water up to several feet above the surface.

Their goal is to knock resting land-based insects and spiders off overhanging leaves so they fall into the water to be eaten. In captivity, these highly intelligent fish will learn and practice their aim. You can encourage this fascinating behavior by placing live food (like crickets or flies) or even dry food just above or on the surface of the water.

Appearance & Size

The Burmese Archerfish is striking. It features distinct, cloud-like black spots across its body and often displays a beautiful golden hue. A moderately sized fish, adults will typically reach over 6 inches (15 cm) in length.

Aquarium Care & Habitat

Unlike many other archerfish species that strictly require brackish water (mangrove swamps and estuaries), the Burmese Archerfish is found in clear freshwater rivers and will thrive in a true freshwater aquarium, though it can tolerate slightly brackish conditions.

To keep them comfortable and mimic their natural habitat, provide a well-planted tank with driftwood and floating plants to offer cover and hunting spots. They are strict top-dwellers and are highly prone to jumping, so a tight, secure lid is absolutely crucial. Keep their water clean with robust filtration, maintaining temperatures of 75–82°F (24–28°C) and a pH of 7.0–8.0.

Diet & Tank Mates

Burmese Archers are carnivores. While they thoroughly enjoy hunting live insects like crickets and flies, they can easily learn to eat floating pellets and flakes dropped near the surface.

When selecting tank mates, remember that while they are generally peaceful, they are still predators. They will eat any fish small enough to fit into their mouths. Good tank mates include similarly sized, peaceful top-to-midwater swimmers like certain cichlids, rainbowfish, or bottom-dwelling catfish.