It is found in fast-flowing streams in southeastern Europe.

They have been recorded from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine.

They spawn over sandy bottoms during March and April.

Each female mates with several males in dense spawning aggregations.

Each female lays about 5,000[3] adhesive eggs that attach to gravel.