It is found in the Indian Subcontinent and nearby areas, ranging across Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Tibet.

[2] Its natural habitats are swamps, ponds and brackish water systems.

[2] The spotted snakehead is listed as Least Concern in IUCN, due to lack of major threats to this species populations.

In its natural habitat, it consumes crustaceans, molluscs, insects, small fishes, semi-digested materials and sometimes plants.

The intensity of feeding is low in mature fishes during the spawning period.