They inhabit waters with abundant algae and shade over gravel, sand and mud, and have an omnivorous diet.

[1] The Moapa Dace usually reproduce in areas where there are overhead instream cover and the water velocity is around 0.11 to 0.17 metres per second (0.36 to 0.56 ft/s).

[7] The entire habitat of this species consists of less than 10 square kilometres (3.9 sq mi) within Clark County, Nevada.

[1] In 1994, a fire at the Moapa National Wildlife Refuge triggered a population decline, and by 1996 the species had been classified as critically endangered.

[5] Since then, researchers have created artificial streams mimicking the optimal conditions described above in hopes of spurring an increase in population.