Archer Fish: What Is The Method You Use To Catch Your Prey?
The archer fish (genus Toxotes ) is a very curious freshwater fish that feeds by shooting flying insects with incredible precision and lethality. These animals are very popular in the aquarium and have been the subject of research for many years for their hunting abilities.
How are these fish able to catch their prey? Where in the world can they be found? Where does his curious nickname come from? We will explore all this and much more in the following lines.
The archer fish: an animal that shoots
Many animals have the ability to hunt prey thanks to their limbs or their fast and elastic tongue, as in the case of the chameleon. However, only a very specific type of fish is capable of throwing something at its prey to hunt them, since the adult specimens of this genus use water as a tool.
The group of archer fish belongs to the scientific genus Toxotes , a Greek word that designated the ancient warriors with bows of the Greek polis – cities. This curious fish is mainly known for its feeding strategy, unique in the world.
The archer fish is capable of launching a powerful jet of water under pressure with its mouth, which knocks down insects that roam the water, which fall to the surface to be eaten. Aside from the ability to do this, the archer fish possesses a unique visual ability that makes it extremely lethal. In the next few lines we will explain how it does it.
His method of capture: water under pressure and prodigious sight
As we have already explained, the launch of water under pressure allows the archer fish to catch its prey. This water can be thrown up to 3 meters above the surface.
The archer fish achieves this due to the particular physiognomy of its mouth. When a specimen of this genus selects its prey, it forms a small groove in the roof of its mouth and its tongue, like a narrow channel.
After this, it shoots by contracting its gill covers and forcing the water through the channel, a fact that allows the liquid to come out with an impressive pressure. When it receives the impact and is destabilized, the prey is at the mercy of the archer fish.
Also, the fish has really good eyesight, being able to shoot even despite the enormous refraction of the water, which makes physical distances seem strange.
A persistent hunter
Apart from an unparalleled ability, the archer fish has the gift of patience: this little animal repeats the water runs as many times as necessary, according to some scientific studies.
Likewise, it has been seen that juvenile specimens are worse than adults when shooting, but with the years they notably improve their technique. Archer fish have been discovered on some occasions knocking down even moving animals, something really complicated.
Way of life and other characteristics
Archer fish are mainly freshwater, although there are also species that inhabit brackish waters such as estuaries and mangroves. Its distribution includes Southeast Asia, Australia and some islands in Oceania.
The archer fish in the aquarium: some care
As we have already explained, these fish are common in many people’s aquariums. Even so, any guardian to know that they have a good adult size, 10 to 12 centimeters, so it is better that they live in large aquariums. A 300 liter tank is recommended to house 4 specimens.
Their requirements are relatively simple: spaces with enough hiding places and lots of vegetation. They also have a preference for rather low water levels and prefer not to be alone. The temperature of the aquarium must be between 24-28 ° C, the PH must be neutral (7) and the general hardness of the water 18-30 GH.
In conclusion, the archer fish is an animal with a unique ability in the world to hunt prey, for which it has been widely studied. This unique quality resides in its ability to launch water under pressure and in a very precise view. Without a doubt, nature never ceases to amaze us.
