The sculpin lives in small to medium-sized streams, and is relatively tolerant of warm water temperatures.

Male sculpins tend to live in silt or in aquatic plant growth.

[2] Female sculpins tend to live in streams with faster currents.

[2] C. girardi juveniles tend to live in streams with minimal current.

[2] This sculpin is considered to be of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature because it has a large natural range, a large population and a number of subpopulations, and a relatively stable population trend over time.