This species was originally described as Barbus schwanenfeldii by Pieter Bleeker in 1853, and has also been placed in the genera Barbodes and Puntius.
tinfoil barb | Berkeley Barb | Barb Wire (film) | Barb Wire | Barb Jungr | Sucker barb | Javaen Barb, ''Systomus orphoides'',
from Tasikmalaya | Barb Spencer | Barb Higgins |
Some compatible species often partnered with this fish are clown knifefish, pacu, oscars, plecostomus, jaguar cichlids, green terrors, gar, tinfoil barb, Siamese tigerfish, and any other somewhat aggressive fish that cannot fit in the arowana's mouth.
Its temperament differs from one individual to another, but in general can be kept with other large aquarium fishes such as tinfoil barbs, silver dollars, oscars, and other Central and South American cichlids.