Found most often in freely flowing rivers and streams and seasonally on floodplains. Although reported to be non-migratory, it definitely does participate in local trophic migrations to and from inundated forests (Ref. 12693). Swims in shoals and are only fished in the Mekong especially during upstream (Jan.-Feb.) and downstream migration (Jun.-Jul.). Eats parenchyma and seeds of chaulmoogra tree (Hydnocarpus) falling into the streams; reported to become intoxicated and behaves in a peculiar manner and is believed to be toxic. Northern Laotians refrain from eating this fish but those in the South do. Cambodians and Vietnamese prize it highly (Ref. 2091). Eating flesh of the fish can cause nausea in humans (Ref. 12693).