It is a small fish, rarely larger than 6 cm, that inhabits clear streams, rivers and ponds. It shares the same habitat as imported trout and bass species and has been identified as prey. The numbers of this relatively delicate fish have declined around Cape Town. Although in South Africa it was at one time classified as near threatened, in Australia species of the same genus were driven to extinction by competing salmonids and other introduced species of fish. It is now classified as "Data Deficient" on the grounds that the taxonomic status of the species complex is unclear.