Banded Archerfish
Toxotes jaculatrix
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 432 litres
- Temperature
- 25–30 °C
Species profile
Armoured Stickleback
Indostomus paradoxus
Common names: Armoured Stickleback, Pipe Fish
Recognized speciesOddballs
Adult size
Up to 3 cm
Up to 3 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A small, well-kept nano tank
Think carefully if
- You only want to keep one or two, because this fish needs a group of 5 or more
A tiny, armoured, stick-like fish from Myanmar, with its body covered in bony plates. Keep a group of at least 5 in 16 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A tiny, armoured, stick-like fish from Myanmar, with its body covered in bony plates. It lives in small groups and takes only tiny live foods, and it is rare.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Males are far more colourful, with larger fins. Females are usually plain.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 30–50 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 25–50 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 16 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 40 cm
- Minimum group size
- 5
- Recommended group size
- 8
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Heavily planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
A small, dark, densely planted tank with a tight lid suits most killifish, as they are strong jumpers. Filtration should be gentle.
Behaviour and Tankmates
A jewel-like small fish, with males displaying to rivals and to females.
Often kept as one male with several females, because males can fight.
Males can be quarrelsome with each other.
Best in a species tank, or with small, peaceful fish. Avoid fin nippers. It may eat baby shrimp. Choose its tankmates with care.
Water Parameters
Keep the pH steady, because this fish is sensitive to swings.
Parameter caveat
Keep up regular water changes, and acclimatise new fish slowly.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Carnivore, Insectivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Small live foodsMany killifish prefer these and may ignore dried food.
- Frozen bloodworm and brine shrimpA good everyday alternative.
Prefers small live and frozen foods.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Cave Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Parental care
- Variable
- Baby foods
- Newly hatched brine shrimpThe fry can usually take this from the start.
- Crushed flakeA simple addition as they grow.
Spawns inside a cave, and one parent guards the eggs and young. Provide a suitable cave for each pair.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Myanmar, Southeast Asia
- Natural habitat
- River
- Aquarium contexts
- Nano Aquarium, Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Indostomus
- Family
- Indostomidae
- Species group
- Fish, Oddballs
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- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 35 cm
- Minimum tank
- 243 litres
- Temperature
- 24–30 °C
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- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 12 cm
- Minimum tank
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- Temperature
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Mastacembelus erythrotaenia
- Care level
- Specialist
- Adult size
- 100 cm
- Minimum tank
- 432 litres
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C