Found in the Mekong basin (Ref. 13074). Occurs in Ban Hang Khone, a village on an island in the middle of the mainstream Mekong River just below the Great Khone Waterfalls in Khong District, Champasak Province (Ref. 37767). Inhabits riffle/rapids of the Mekong basin in Muang Khong District (Ref. 37769). Undertakes an upstream trophic migration to rocky sections of the mainstream in the Muang Khong area from around early to mid-January until February where it grazes on filamentous algae growing on rock surfaces (Ref. 37769). Fish landings gradually diminish from about the end of February and by April only a small number of fish are being landed; it reappears following an increase of water level at the start of the monsoon season but then almost completely disappears after a few days until the following January (Ref. 37769). Observed to undergo migration and fished heavily at the fishing village of Ban Wernsonkhram on Don Hat (Hat Island) above the Lee Pee Waterfalls (Ref. 10431). Museum; Mekong river FB Gypen_u1.jpg; Mekong river at Ban Hang Khone, just below Khone falls, CAS 93266 (Ref. 5515). Also Ref. 4792, 30857, 44002, 56905.