It is a small fish, rarely larger than 6 cm, that inhabits clear streams, rivers and ponds of South Africa.

It shares the same habitat as imported trout and bass species and has been identified as prey.

[4] It is now classified as "Data Deficient" on the grounds that the taxonomic status of the species complex is unclear.

[1] The Cape galaxias is a small slender fish with a cylindrical body and no scales.

[6] Some of the taxa in the complex are found in clear mountain streams with low dissolved mineral levels but others seem to prefer lowland streams that can be turbid and have high levels of dissolved minerals.