Can Arulius Barb and Asian Upside Down Catfish Live Together?

Arulius Barb is a generally mild-mannered species (4/10), while Asian Upside Down Catfish is semi-aggressive (8/10). This notable difference means Asian Upside Down Catfish may occasionally assert dominance over Arulius Barb.

Arulius Barb and Asian Upside Down Catfish both frequent the Middle (Open Water) and Bottom (Substrate) region of the setup. This overlap can increase competition for space, so providing ample room and cover is important to keep both species comfortable.

Worth noting: Asian Upside Down Catfish is nocturnal and will be most active after lights-out, naturally reducing daytime encounters. Also, Arulius Barb is a known jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

To improve the chances of a peaceful coexistence in this community tank: Provide a significantly larger tank (at least 50% more volume than the minimum) to allow both Arulius Barb and Asian Upside Down Catfish to establish separate territories. Add plenty of line-of-sight breaks using driftwood, rocks, and dense planting to reduce territorial confrontations. A larger aquarium with ample hiding spots can help diffuse aggression and give the less dominant fish space to retreat. Keep fin nippers in larger groups to distribute nipping behaviour among conspecifics rather than tank mates.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 23°C and 25°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 24.0°C) for optimal comfort.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 6 and 7.5. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 5–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house Arulius Barb and Asian Upside Down Catfish together, plan for an aquarium of at least 380 litres with a minimum length of 120 cm. This recommendation combines the stricter species minimums with a community-load allowance so the pairing has realistic long-term space and filtration headroom.

Because this pairing requires extra vigilance, include plenty of hiding spots — caves, driftwood, and dense plant clusters — so the less dominant fish can retreat when needed.

Specific environmental needs for this combination include: Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels), Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding). Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Both species do well with high (river/stream) water movement, so a standard filtration setup rated for the tank volume should suffice.