[4] The banded darter has a widespread distribution throughout much of eastern United States, primarily the Mississippi Basin.

[6][full citation needed] Biologists have studied the two darters and their niches in the Susquehanna River drainage.

[8] The banded darter prefers water deeper than 25 cm in the riffles around the midchannel of the river or creek.

Chironomids (larvae of non-biting flies called midges), ephemeropterans (mayflies), and trichopterans (caddisflies) were supplied for the darters to eat.

The study found the banded darter prefers chironomids over the mayflies (ephemeropterans) or caddisflies (trichopterans), and the fish fed more during the day than they did at night.

By contrast, climate change / global warming could increase the range of distribution of the banded darter by resulting in warmer water closer to their preferred temperature.

[12] Spawning season occurs during late spring in April and May, but the breeding color for the males begins to intensify during February.

Once the female began undulating, the male quickly mounted her with his head, and they both quivered in unison while moving 2–3 cm forward.

The banded darter is protected in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina.

The banded darter is sensitive to siltation and pollution, and dams are thought to limit its distribution.

[16][full citation needed] The banded darter will also be affected by run-off from surrounding lands of the river or stream they inhabit.