Targetfish

The targetfish Terapon jarbua is typical of the family Teraponidae. Although never commonly sold, it has recently begun to be more regularly offered by enterprising dealers and is worth seeking out.

Adults are schooling omnivores that move in and out of estuaries, swimming well upstream into completely fresh water. They are also found in the sea. Adult fish are omnivores, taking plant material including algae alongside small fish, worms, and insects. Juveniles are not at all sociable, and are more typical of intertidal habitats including sandy bays and rock pools. They are territorial and nippy towards one another.

Wild targetfish are confirmed scale-parasites, by preference taking the scales from large, slow-moving fish such as mullets. Provided they are adequately fed, this doesn't seem to happen in aquaria. They mix well with scats and monos, with which they share similar needs. Targetfish are very active, and need plenty of swimming space. In captivity they get to about 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 inches) in size though wild fish can be twice that size. Practically all foods are taken, though a mix of chunky seafood and algae-based flakes is recommended. Targetfish are hearty eaters, and need lots of food to do well, and this in turn means the aquarium should be efficiently filtered.

They are called targetfishes because when viewed from above, the curved, dark bands on the silvery body form concentric rings rather like the circles like an archery target.