Origin: Myanmar (Burma).

The Burmese Cloud Archerfish (Toxotes blythii) is endemic to Myanmar, where it inhabits inland freshwater river systems that differ from the brackish estuaries commonly associated with many other archerfish species. This distinction makes the Burmese Cloud Archerfish especially appealing to freshwater aquarists, as it has evolved to spend its life in freshwater environments rather than transitioning between fresh and brackish water.

Its native waterways flow through tropical forests where seasonal rainfall dramatically changes the surrounding landscape. During the rainy season, rivers overflow into nearby floodplains and forests, creating temporary feeding grounds rich in insects and other small prey. These seasonal changes have helped shape the Burmese Cloud Archerfish into an intelligent, opportunistic predator capable of taking advantage of food both above and below the water's surface.

Although rarely encountered in the aquarium hobby, Burmese Cloud Archerfish occupy an important role within their native ecosystem by helping regulate populations of insects and other small aquatic animals. Their remarkable water-shooting ability is one of the most specialized hunting adaptations found among freshwater fish and reflects millions of years of evolution within Myanmar's forest rivers.

Designing an aquarium for the Burmese Cloud Archerfish is about recreating the calm rivers and forest streams of Myanmar, where this remarkable species patrols the water's surface beneath overhanging vegetation in search of insects and other prey. Combining open swimming space with natural wood, floating plants, and carefully selected botanicals creates an aquarium that not only looks beautiful but also encourages the Burmese Cloud Archerfish to display its famous hunting behavior.

• 
  Open Swimming Space: Leave the center and upper portions of the aquarium open so Burmese Cloud Archerfish have plenty of room to cruise the surface and accurately target prey. This species values swimming space far more than densely packed decorations.
  
• 
  Driftwood & Branches: Large pieces of Malaysian Driftwood, Spider Wood, or branching hardwood create the appearance of fallen trees and overhanging stream banks while providing shaded resting areas and natural focal points.
  
• 
  Floating Plants: Floating plants such as Amazon Frogbit, Red Root Floaters, Salvinia, or Water Lettuce soften bright lighting while recreating the overhead vegetation where insects naturally gather. These plants complement the Burmese Cloud Archerfish's famous water-shooting hunting behavior by creating realistic feeding zones near the surface.
  
• 
  Background Plants: Hardy species such as Java Fern, Anubias, Bolbitis, Cryptocoryne, and Vallisneria provide security around the edges of the aquarium without restricting the large open swimming lanes this species prefers.
  
• 
  Substrate: Sand or fine natural-colored gravel closely resembles the river bottoms of Myanmar while making maintenance simple and allowing the natural colors of the Burmese Cloud Archerfish to stand out.
  
• 
  Botanicals: Indian Almond Leaves, Guava Leaves, Magnolia Leaves, Mixed Leaf Litter, Shrimp Botanicals Variety Packs, and Alder Cones can be used sparingly to create a more natural forest stream appearance. While Burmese Cloud Archerfish are not dependent on tannins, these botanicals help recreate the leaf-litter environment found along many Southeast Asian waterways.
  
• 
  Lighting: Moderate lighting combined with floating plants produces dappled shade that more closely resembles sunlight filtering through riverside vegetation and helps surface-oriented fish feel secure.
  
• 
  Aquascaping Style: A Southeast Asian river-inspired aquascape featuring open water, natural driftwood, floating plants, scattered botanicals, and lush background vegetation creates an attractive display while encouraging natural behaviors.
  

Aquatic Arts Tip

One of the most enjoyable aspects of keeping Burmese Cloud Archerfish is watching them patrol the surface beneath floating plants and overhanging branches, always looking for their next meal. Rather than filling the aquarium with decorations, focus on creating layers: open swimming space in the center, driftwood and plants around the edges, floating vegetation overhead, and a light scattering of botanicals below. This layout not only highlights the beauty of the Burmese Cloud Archerfish but also encourages many of the natural behaviors that make this species so fascinating to observe.

The Burmese Cloud Archerfish is a carnivorous predator that naturally feeds on insects, spiders, aquatic invertebrates, small crustaceans, and other animal prey found at or just above the water's surface. In the aquarium, this species thrives on a varied, protein-rich diet that closely mimics these natural food sources. Offering a diverse menu not only supports excellent health and growth but also encourages the active hunting behaviors that make Burmese Cloud Archerfish such fascinating fish to observe.

• 
  Staple Diet: A high-quality floating carnivore pellet should form the foundation of the diet. Floating foods encourage Burmese Cloud Archerfish to feed naturally at the surface while ensuring they receive balanced daily nutrition.
  
• 
  Frozen Foods: Frozen Bloodworms, Mysis Shrimp, Krill, Brine Shrimp, and chopped shrimp provide excellent dietary variety and help maintain healthy body condition.
  
• 
  Live Foods: Live Blackworms, Live Daphnia, Live Adult Brine Shrimp, feeder insects, and other appropriately sized live foods stimulate the Burmese Cloud Archerfish's natural hunting instincts while providing enrichment and conditioning opportunities.
  
• 
  Insects: Crickets, flightless fruit flies, black soldier fly larvae, mealworms (occasionally), and other captive-raised insects make excellent treats that closely resemble the prey Burmese Cloud Archerfish capture in nature.
  
• 
  Juveniles: Young Burmese Cloud Archerfish benefit from smaller foods such as Live Blackworms, Daphnia, frozen Bloodworms, and finely sized floating pellets offered several times throughout the day to support steady growth.
  
• 
  Adults: Adult Burmese Cloud Archerfish typically do well with one to two appropriately sized meals per day. Offer only what they will consume within a few minutes to help maintain excellent water quality.
  
• 
  Feeding Behavior: Burmese Cloud Archerfish are intelligent surface predators that quickly learn feeding routines and often recognize their keeper. Whenever possible, use floating foods that allow them to feed naturally at the surface rather than relying exclusively on sinking foods.
  
• 
  Diet Variety: Rotating prepared, frozen, and live foods helps provide a broader nutritional profile while keeping Burmese Cloud Archerfish mentally stimulated through a variety of feeding experiences.
  

Aquatic Arts Tips

One of the most rewarding aspects of keeping Burmese Cloud Archerfish is watching them hunt. Floating insects and live foods occasionally offered as enrichment allow these remarkable fish to display the behaviors that have made archerfish famous around the world. While they may not always "shoot" prey in the aquarium, providing opportunities to hunt naturally creates a far more engaging environment than feeding the same prepared food every day. A varied diet combined with excellent water quality is the key to maintaining healthy, active Burmese Cloud Archerfish for many years.

The Burmese Cloud Archerfish is generally a peaceful fish toward appropriately sized aquarium inhabitants but should always be viewed as a predator. Any fish, shrimp, crab, or other aquatic animal small enough to fit into its mouth may eventually become food. The best tank mates are active, confident species that appreciate similar water conditions and are too large to be considered prey. Because Burmese Cloud Archerfish spend much of their time in the upper portion of the aquarium, combining them with midwater and bottom-dwelling species creates a balanced and active community aquarium.

Excellent Tank Mates

• 
  Larger Rainbowfish: Species such as Boesemani, Turquoise, and Lake Kutubu Rainbowfish are active swimmers that occupy the middle water column and are generally too large to be viewed as prey.
  
• 
  Larger Barbs: Tinfoil Barbs, Filament Barbs, and other robust barb species can make excellent companions in appropriately sized aquariums due to their active nature and comparable size.
  
• 
  Peaceful Larger Gouramis: Pearl Gouramis, Moonlight Gouramis, and Snakeskin Gouramis generally coexist well when adequate swimming space is available.
  
• 
  Larger Loaches: Clown Loaches, Zebra Loaches, and other appropriately sized loaches occupy the bottom of the aquarium and help create activity throughout the lower levels.
  
• 
  Larger Catfish: Peaceful catfish such as Synodontis, Raphael Catfish, and many larger Corydoras relatives make good bottom-dwelling companions.
  
• 
  Silver Dollars: Their peaceful temperament, larger adult size, and preference for the middle water column make Silver Dollars suitable companions in spacious aquariums.
  
• 
  Peaceful Cichlids: Severums, Geophagus, Keyhole Cichlids, and other non-aggressive species of similar size may coexist successfully when provided with adequate space.
  

Species to Avoid

• 
  Small Community Fish: Neon Tetras, Ember Tetras, Chili Rasboras, Celestial Pearl Danios, Endlers, and other small species may eventually be viewed as prey.
  
• 
  Freshwater Shrimp: Cherry Shrimp, Amano Shrimp, Bamboo Shrimp, Vampire Shrimp, and other shrimp are not recommended because Burmese Cloud Archerfish are opportunistic predators.
  
• 
  Crabs and Crayfish: Freshwater crabs and crayfish may injure the fish, while juvenile crabs can also become prey.
  
• 
  Fin-Nipping Fish: Tiger Barbs, Serpae Tetras, and other persistent fin nippers may stress Burmese Cloud Archerfish during feeding or while resting.
  
• 
  Highly Aggressive Fish: Large aggressive cichlids and other territorial predators may outcompete or harass Burmese Cloud Archerfish.
  

Community Aquarium Tips

Burmese Cloud Archerfish are intelligent, observant fish that appreciate stable social environments. When selecting tank mates, focus on species that are similar in size, peaceful in temperament, and comfortable in warm freshwater aquariums. Providing ample open swimming space, multiple feeding locations, and high-quality filtration helps reduce competition and allows each species to display its natural behaviors.

Aquatic Arts Tip

One of the easiest compatibility rules to remember is this: if a tank mate can fit into a Burmese Cloud Archerfish's mouth, assume it may eventually become food. Building a community around similarly sized, peaceful fish allows the Burmese Cloud Archerfish to become the centerpiece of the aquarium while minimizing unnecessary predation or aggression.

Shrimp Safe: No

The Burmese Cloud Archerfish is not considered shrimp safe. As a naturally carnivorous predator, this species instinctively hunts insects, crustaceans, and other small animals near the water's surface and throughout the water column. Freshwater shrimp are viewed as a potential food source rather than compatible tank mates.

Adult Neocaridina Shrimp, Caridina Shrimp, Amano Shrimp, Ghost Shrimp, Bamboo Shrimp, Vampire Shrimp, and most other freshwater shrimp are all at risk of predation, particularly during molts when they are most vulnerable. Juvenile shrimp are especially unlikely to survive in an aquarium with Burmese Cloud Archerfish.

Even heavily planted aquariums with dense mosses, driftwood, and abundant hiding places cannot guarantee the safety of freshwater shrimp. While an occasional larger shrimp may avoid predation for a time, shrimp should not be added with the expectation that they will become permanent members of the aquarium.

Aquatic Arts Tip

If your goal is to keep and breed freshwater shrimp, we recommend maintaining a dedicated shrimp aquarium or selecting peaceful community fish specifically known to be shrimp safe. The Burmese Cloud Archerfish is best appreciated in a community built around similarly sized fish rather than ornamental shrimp.

Breeding Difficulty: Expert

Reproduction: Egg Layer

Captive breeding of the Burmese Cloud Archerfish (Toxotes blythii) is extremely rare, and there are very few well-documented reports of successful aquarium spawning. Most specimens available in the aquarium hobby today are responsibly collected from their native freshwater habitats in Myanmar. While other archerfish species have been spawned under controlled conditions, the specific breeding requirements of the Burmese Cloud Archerfish remain poorly understood.

Like many tropical freshwater fish, spawning is believed to be influenced by a combination of seasonal environmental cues, including changes in water chemistry, temperature, water level, and the availability of abundant live foods. Mature breeding pairs likely require spacious aquariums or pond-like environments that allow them to establish natural courtship behaviors without disturbance.

Little information is available regarding courtship displays, egg deposition, incubation time, or parental care for this species. Because of this, Burmese Cloud Archerfish should currently be appreciated primarily as a display species rather than one kept with the expectation of breeding.

Aquatic Arts Tip

One of the exciting aspects of keeping rare species like the Burmese Cloud Archerfish is that there is still much to learn. As more experienced aquarists and public aquariums work with this remarkable fish, our understanding of its breeding biology will continue to grow. If captive breeding becomes more consistent in the future, it could play an important role in expanding availability while reducing pressure on wild populations.

Why is the Burmese Cloud Archerfish so rare in the aquarium hobby?

The Burmese Cloud Archerfish (Toxotes blythii) is collected from a relatively limited native range in Myanmar and is imported far less frequently than other archerfish species. Its specialized care requirements, large adult size, and limited availability make it an uncommon but highly sought-after fish among experienced aquarists.

What makes the Burmese Cloud Archerfish different from other archerfish species?

Unlike many commonly available archerfish that naturally inhabit brackish estuaries and mangrove environments, the Burmese Cloud Archerfish is primarily a freshwater species. Burmese Cloud Archerfish also display distinctive cloud-like body markings and are considerably less common in the aquarium hobby, making them a unique choice for freshwater enthusiasts.

Can Burmese Cloud Archerfish live in a planted aquarium?

Yes. Burmese Cloud Archerfish can thrive in a planted aquarium provided there is plenty of open swimming space near the surface. Hardy plants such as Anubias, Java Fern, Vallisneria, and floating plants work particularly well because they provide cover without restricting movement.

Do Burmese Cloud Archerfish need floating plants?

Floating plants are not required, but they are highly beneficial. Floating plants help diffuse bright lighting, provide a greater sense of security, and recreate the overhanging vegetation where Burmese Cloud Archerfish naturally hunt insects. They also complement the species' famous surface-oriented feeding behavior.

Do Burmese Cloud Archerfish need a secure lid?

Yes. Burmese Cloud Archerfish are active surface-dwelling fish that may jump when startled or while pursuing food. A secure, tight-fitting lid is essential to prevent accidental escapes.

Why doesn't my Burmese Cloud Archerfish shoot water?

Not every Burmese Cloud Archerfish regularly displays its famous water-shooting behavior in the aquarium. This hunting technique is most often used when insects or other prey are positioned above the water's surface. Providing floating insects or creating natural feeding opportunities may encourage this fascinating behavior, but some individuals simply use more traditional feeding methods.

Can Burmese Cloud Archerfish recognize their owner?

Many aquarists report that Burmese Cloud Archerfish quickly learn feeding routines and recognize the person who regularly feeds them. Their intelligence and curiosity often make them one of the most interactive fish in the aquarium.

Can Burmese Cloud Archerfish eat crickets and other feeder insects?

Yes. Burmese Cloud Archerfish readily accept appropriately sized captive-raised crickets, flightless fruit flies, black soldier fly larvae, and other feeder insects. These foods provide dietary variety while encouraging natural hunting behaviors.

Can Burmese Cloud Archerfish eat mealworms?

Yes, but mealworms should only be offered occasionally. Because mealworms contain a tougher outer shell and higher fat content than many other feeder insects, they are best used as an occasional treat rather than a dietary staple.

Can Burmese Cloud Archerfish eat shrimp?

Yes. Burmese Cloud Archerfish naturally prey on small crustaceans and will readily consume freshwater shrimp if given the opportunity. Shrimp should be considered food rather than tank mates.

Can Burmese Cloud Archerfish live with Rainbowfish?

Yes. Larger Rainbowfish are among the best companions for Burmese Cloud Archerfish because they are active swimmers, occupy similar water conditions, and are generally too large to be viewed as prey once fully grown.

Can Burmese Cloud Archerfish live with Angelfish?

Yes, in a spacious aquarium. Adult Angelfish are generally too large to become prey and can coexist with Burmese Cloud Archerfish when both species have adequate swimming space and are introduced at compatible sizes.

Can Burmese Cloud Archerfish live with Gouramis?

Yes. Larger peaceful Gouramis, such as Pearl Gouramis and Moonlight Gouramis, often make suitable tank mates because they share similar water requirements and are generally not aggressive toward Burmese Cloud Archerfish.

Can Burmese Cloud Archerfish live with Plecos?

Yes. Many medium to large Plecos make excellent tank mates because they occupy the bottom of the aquarium while Burmese Cloud Archerfish spend most of their time near the surface. This natural separation helps reduce competition.

Can Burmese Cloud Archerfish live with Loaches?

Yes. Larger Loaches, including Clown Loaches and Zebra Loaches, generally coexist well with Burmese Cloud Archerfish in large aquariums where each species has sufficient space.

Can Burmese Cloud Archerfish live with Silver Dollars?

Yes. Silver Dollars are peaceful schooling fish that grow too large to become prey and occupy the middle portions of the aquarium, making them suitable companions in appropriately sized aquariums.

Will Burmese Cloud Archerfish eat small fish?

Yes. Burmese Cloud Archerfish are opportunistic predators and may consume fish that are small enough to fit into their mouths. Very small tetras, rasboras, livebearers, and other nano fish are not recommended as tank mates.

How often should I feed Burmese Cloud Archerfish?

Juveniles benefit from two to three smaller meals each day to support healthy growth, while adults typically do well with one to two varied meals daily. Feed only what they can consume within a few minutes to maintain excellent water quality.

How fast do Burmese Cloud Archerfish grow?

Growth rates vary depending on diet, water quality, and aquarium size. Under excellent conditions with a varied, protein-rich diet, juvenile Burmese Cloud Archerfish can grow steadily during their first few years before gradually reaching their adult size of approximately 8 to 10 inches.

Would Aquatic Arts recommend Burmese Cloud Archerfish?

Yes, for experienced aquarists with appropriately sized aquariums. The Burmese Cloud Archerfish is an intelligent, interactive, and highly rewarding species that offers one of the most fascinating hunting behaviors in the freshwater aquarium hobby. Aquarists prepared to provide a large aquarium, compatible tank mates, and a varied carnivorous diet will be rewarded with a truly exceptional centerpiece fish.

We stand behind the health and quality of every fish we offer. Each Burmese Cloud Archerfish is carefully quarantined, observed, and conditioned before shipment to help ensure it arrives healthy, active, and ready to thrive in its new aquarium.

Every fish order ships in our Aquatic Arts Live Arrival Guarantee Box at no additional charge. Each shipment is professionally packed using insulated packaging and weather-appropriate heat or cold packs when necessary to help maintain safe temperatures throughout transit.

Although Burmese Cloud Archerfish are hardy when provided with appropriate care, all live animals experience some level of stress during shipping and acclimation. Prompt acclimation, excellent water quality, and an appropriately sized, fully cycled aquarium are essential to helping your new fish settle in successfully. Following the recommended care guidelines on this page will give your Burmese Cloud Archerfish the best opportunity to thrive from day one.

Every Burmese Cloud Archerfish is backed by our 100% Live Arrival Guarantee. If your fish arrive with any issues, please complete our DOA Claim Form as soon as possible and include all required photographs and order information. This allows our Customer Support Team to review your claim and provide the fastest possible resolution.

You can access the DOA Claim Form here:

https://aquaticarts.com/pages/doa-claim

If you have questions about your order or need additional assistance, please contact us at:

info@aquaticarts.com

For complete details about our Live Arrival Guarantee, claim requirements, and reporting process, please visit:

https://aquaticarts.com/pages/live-arrival-guarantee

Best Fishes,

The Aquatic Arts Team