It lives on rocky substrates and adults prefer waters at depths of 3 - 5 meters deep .

Flowerhorn cichlids previously colonized Lake Matano, which had a detrimental effect on the native populations of Cardinia species.

[1] Caridina spinata is an attractive shrimp species, therefore heavily harvested from the wild for the aquarium trade.

Wild collection of this species has been increasing, which is believed to be aiding population decline.

[1] Pollution by the human activities such as nickel mining also threatens the habitat of Caridina spinata.