Clouded archerfish
Toxotes blythii
The Clouded archerfish exhibits a distinctive body shape with a silvery-gray hue and prominent, dark vertical bars along its flanks.
This page includes AI-generated images. Why am I seeing AI images?
About the Clouded archerfish
A true freshwater archerfish from Myanmar, this species has cloud-like blotches instead of the bold bars most archers show. It can learn target practice quickly and will spit water to knock insects into the tank, so a tight lid and some overhanging decor make it really fun to keep.
Also known as
Quick Facts
Size
6 inches
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Difficulty
Intermediate
Min Tank Size
55 gallons
Lifespan
5-8 years
Origin
Southeast Asia (Myanmar)
Diet
Carnivore-omnivore - insects, small crustaceans, small fish; accepts quality floating pellets and frozen foods
Water Parameters
25-28°C
6.5-8
5-15 dGH
Need a heater for this species?
This species needs 25-28°C in a 55 gallon tank. Use our heater calculator to find the right wattage.
Calculate heater sizeCare Notes
- Start with at least a 55-gallon freshwater tank for one clouded archerfish; use a tight-fitting lid and add overhanging decor so it can practice spitting.
- Hold 25-28 C, pH 6.5-8, and 5-15 dGH. This species is fully freshwater, so skip brackish salt.
- Feed quality floating pellets and frozen foods, plus insects or small crustaceans at the surface. It learns target practice quickly and will shoot water at prey.
- Semi-aggressive and predatory: anything bite-sized may be eaten. Pick robust, similarly sized tankmates and avoid tiny or slow fish.
- Leave open surface area and provide overhangs or emergent plants to encourage natural hunting. Protect lights and gaps because spray can reach outside the tank.
- Adults reach about 6 inches and live 5-8 years, so plan long-term space and stocking with that in mind.
- Home breeding is not documented for Toxotes blythii; do not expect to breed this species in a typical aquarium.
Compatibility
Good Tankmates
- Other clouded archerfish of similar size, kept as a small group in a long, tightly covered tank
- Fast midwater schoolers too large to be swallowed (larger rainbowfish, scissortail rasboras, giant danios)
- Peaceful bottom catfish and algae-eaters that ignore the surface (bristlenose pleco, hoplo catfish)
- Robust algae grazers that stay mid-bottom and are not nippy (Siamese algae eater, panda garra)
- Medium-sized, active loaches kept in groups, which stay on the bottom (yo-yo loach, Burmese border loach)
Avoid
- Small fish or invertebrates that fit in an archerfish mouth (neons and other small tetras/rasboras, guppies, white clouds, dwarf shrimp)
- Nippy or boisterous fish that harass tankmates (tiger barbs, overly aggressive barbs, fin-nipping minnows)
- Slow or long-finned fish that use the surface or midwater (angelfish, fancy bettas, many gouramis)
- Large aggressive cichlids or predators that can bully or injure archers (oscars, snakeheads, big knifefish)
Clouded archerfish (Toxotes blythii) are true freshwater archers from Myanmar, named for the soft, cloud-like blotches along the body instead of the sharp bars seen on other archerfish. Medium-sized at up to 6 inches, they live about 5-8 years and are quick studies at target practice. Expect a smart, semi-aggressive surface hunter that will spit water to knock insects into the tank.
Origin and habitat
Native to inland freshwaters of Myanmar in Southeast Asia, this species spends most of its time just under the surface, where it patrols for insects around overhanging vegetation. Unlike several other archerfish, it is not a brackish-water species.
True freshwater archerfish: do not add salt for Toxotes blythii.
Aquarium setup and water
Start with at least a 55-gallon tank. Provide open surface area for cruising and aiming, plus branches or other decor that reach above the water to encourage natural spitting behavior. Leave some clear surface so food is easy to see.
- Temperature: 25-28 C
- pH: 6.5-8
- Hardness: 5-15 dGH
Use a tight-fitting lid with no gaps. Clouded archerfish jump and can spit streams of water several feet; they will find openings.
Diet and feeding
Carnivore-omnivore. In nature they take insects first, plus small crustaceans and the occasional small fish. In aquaria they accept quality floating pellets and frozen foods. Feed at the surface where they naturally hunt.
- Staples: high-quality floating carnivore pellets
- Frozen/thawed options: mysis, krill, chopped prawn, bloodworms
- Occasional live insects (culture your own if possible)
Give safe target practice by dangling a pellet or thawed insect just above the surface with feeding tongs, or by placing a small insect on an overhanging branch. They learn fast and it keeps them engaged.
Avoid wild-caught insects from treated areas and skip feeder fish, which can introduce disease.
Behavior and tankmates
Semi-aggressive and very surface-oriented. They are predators and will eat small fish that fit in their mouths. Choose companions with care and keep the top zone uncluttered so they can patrol.
- Avoid tiny or slim top-dwellers (they are prey items).
- Pick similarly sized, non-nippy tankmates that occupy the middle or bottom.
- Expect some chasing around the surface, especially with other surface hunters.
Any small fish or shrimp may be treated as food.
Common issues to avoid
- Open-top tanks: escapes are common without a tight lid.
- Brackish setups: this species is freshwater; unnecessary salt can cause problems.
- Under-stimulating environment: no overhangs or target opportunities often leads to bored, jumpy fish.
- Overfeeding rich meaty foods: feed moderate portions and keep up with water changes to maintain water quality.
Similar Species
Other freshwater semi-aggressive species you might be interested in.
American flagfish
Jordanella floridae
Jordanella floridae is that little Florida native with the red-and-cream striping that really does look like a tiny flag once a male colors up. They graze algae like champs (especially stringy/hair algae), but they have a bit of attitude - give them plants and space so the bossy behavior stays manageable. Bonus: the male guards the eggs and will actively fan them, which is pretty fun to watch.
Banded Leporinus
Leporinus fasciatus
Banded Leporinus are those torpedo-shaped, black-and-yellow striped fish that look like they're wearing a little prison outfit-and they stay on the move. They've got a ton of personality and they're awesome to watch cruising and picking at stuff, but they're also the kind of fish that will redecorate your tank and "taste test" anything soft-looking.
Bandi cichlid
Wallaceochromis signatus
A West African dwarf cichlid from Guinea's Bandi River, this fish shows crisp vertical bars and spotted fins with red highlights. Females have a bold black spot at the base of the tail, and pairs guard eggs and fry in caves, which makes their parental behavior fun to watch.
Betta
Betta splendens
Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are popular for their striking colors and flowing fins. They are known for their territorial nature, especially males, which can display aggressive behavior towards each other.
Blackhawk catfish
Wallagonia micropogon
Wallagonia micropogon is a giant Southeast Asian sheatfish with an eel-like body and a huge, scoop-like mouth for hunting other fish. It is native to the Mekong and middle Chao Phraya basins and was long confused with Wallagonia leerii, which makes IDs and care notes tricky. Stunning as a juvenile but it grows to true megafish size, so it is only realistic for expert keepers or public aquariums.
Boulenger's Featherfin Tetra
Bryconaethiops boulengeri
A big, fast African tetra from the Congo River basin, it cruises the mid-to-upper water in active groups and flashes a bold broken stripe along its flanks. In the wild it hunts insects at the surface and can leap, so aquariums need tight lids. Keep it with robust tankmates it cannot swallow.
More to Explore
Discover more freshwater species.
Amapa tetra
Hyphessobrycon amapaensis
This is a tiny, super sleek little tetra with a clean red stripe down the side that really pops once its settled in. It does best in a planted, slightly tinted "creek-style" setup and looks way cooler when you keep a proper group so they school and flash that line together. If you can give it soft, slightly acidic water and a calm community, its an easy fish to fall for.
Armoured stickleback
Indostomus paradoxus
This is that goofy little "freshwater seahorse"-looking fish that just kind of perches and scoots around like a tiny armored twig. Its whole vibe is slow, sneaky micropredator - once its settled in, you will catch it stalking microfoods and doing these subtle little posture displays. The big trick is feeding: they do best when you can provide lots of small live foods in a calm, planted tank.
Arrowhead puffer
Pao suvattii
Pao suvattii is that sneaky Mekong puffer that likes to sit low and ambush food, and it has that super recognizable arrow/V pattern on its back. Gorgeous fish with tons of personality, but it is absolutely not a community guy - plan on a solo, species-only setup if you want everybody to stay in one piece.
Bishop toothcarp
Brachyrhaphis episcopi
This is a tiny Panamanian livebearer that does best when you treat it more like a shy wild fish than a fancy guppy-lots of cover, calm vibes, and really clean water. The fun part is watching the males posture and spar while the females cruise around dropping fully-formed fry about once a month.
Black morpho tetra
Poecilocharax weitzmani
Poecilocharax weitzmani is one of those tiny blackwater oddballs that acts more like a little darter than a typical tetra - it hangs low, darts between cover, and the males can get pretty showy with fin-flares. The really cool part is they are cave breeders with male brood care, which is not what most people expect from a small characin. Give them very soft, acidic, super-clean water and lots of leaf litter and hidey holes, and they settle in and start showing their best colors.
Black Neon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Black neons are one of those little tetras that look kinda understated until the light hits them-then that bright stripe pops and they shimmer when the school turns together. They're super chill, always cruising mid-water, and they make a tank feel "alive" without being hectic. If you keep a nice group, they get bolder and you'll see way more of their personality.
Looking for other species?