Inhabits vegetated and brushy stream margins and pools of creeks and small to medium rivers, and rocky and vegetated margins of lakes (Ref. 5723). Most commonly found in clear, silt-free rocky streams (Ref. 5723). An introduced species in Europe which avoids swift waters and occurs in a wide variety of slow-flowing to stagnant waters such as large rivers, lakes, ponds, canals and backwaters (Ref. 59043). Feeds on small crustaceans, insects and fish (Ref. 30578).