Five Banded Barb (Desmopuntius pentazona)

Banded Archerfish Care Guide

Tank Setup

Tank Size:

• Minimum 200 liters (55 gallons) for juveniles

• 300+ liters recommended for adults

• Adults can grow up to 25–30 cm (10–12 inches)

Substrate:

• Sand or fine gravel

Décor:

• Open swimming space

• Driftwood, mangrove roots, and sturdy plants

• Plants are best kept in pots, as Archerfish may uproot them

Special Feature:

• Thrive best in brackish water

• While some populations occur in freshwater, a brackish setup using marine salt is strongly recommended for long-term health

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 24–30°C (75–86°F)

• pH: 7.0–8.0

• Salinity: SG 1.005–1.015 (brackish conditions)

• Hardness: 10–20 dGH

• Filtration: Strong and efficient with moderate flow

• Maintain excellent water quality — Archerfish are sensitive to poor conditions

Diet

• Carnivorous

• Feed live or frozen foods such as:

  • Crickets

  • Mealworms

  • Shrimp

  • Small fish

• May also accept floating carnivore pellets

Natural Feeding Behavior:

• Archerfish hunt insects by spitting jets of water to knock prey off branches above the water surface

Tank Mates

• Best kept with other large brackish species, such as:

  • Scats

  • Monos

  • Larger gobies

• Avoid small fish — they will be seen as prey

• Can be kept in groups, but a large tank is essential to reduce aggression

Behavior

• Famous for their incredible spitting accuracy

• Intelligent, active, and often swim near the surface

• Can become skittish in small tanks or with sudden movements

Interesting Fact

The Banded Archerfish can shoot a stream of water up to 3 meters (10 feet) with pinpoint accuracy to knock insects off branches. Even more impressive, they compensate for light refraction at the water’s surface, allowing them to adjust their aim perfectly.

Referenced by Bubbly Fish