Abstract: To test the swimming performance, locomotive limiting factors and metabolic adaptive strategy of darkbarbel catfish Peltebagrus vachelli under different dissolved oxygen levels (DO), the effects of DO (125%, 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% air saturation) on resting oxygen consumption rate (MO2), critical swimming speed (Ucrit) and MO2 at different swimming speeds up to Ucrit were investigated in juvenile darkbarbel catfish at 25oC. Resting MO2 decreased significantly with DO (P2crit) for resting MO2 was 14.52% air saturation (1.16 mg/L). The active MO2 decreased significantly with the decrease of DO from 100% to 25% air saturation (PUcrit decreased significantly when DO fell below 75% air saturation (PUcrit nor active MO2 showed any elevation under hyperoxic conditions (125% air saturation); and the cost of transport (COT) was significantly lower under 25% air saturation than that of other groups at corresponding swimming speeds (P<0.05). These results suggested that the swimming performance of darkbarbel catfish was limited by the cardio-respiratory system under hypoxia, while it was limited by the peripheral locomotory organs and musculature under normoxia.