Geographical Distribution
The golden mahseer is found in the Himalayan region, as well as in parts of South and Southeast Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maynmar, western Iran and eastern Thailand. In India, it is found in the northern states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The species inhabits the Himalayan foothills and the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra basins, and can also be found in southern rivers such as the Balamore, Cauvery, Tambraparini, and Kosi.

General Information  
Golden mahseer is capable of breeding throughout most months of the year, with a primary breeding season typically spanning from July to September. This species can spawn multiple times annually, with eggs generally laid in sheltered rock pools. Breeding often occurs during floods, with spawning taking place over rocky or gravel substrates. Despite this, their sexual productivity is low, producing only 6,000 to 10,000 eggs per kilogram of body weight. The golden mahseer prefers fast-moving waters with rocky and stony substrates in highland streams, although it can also inhabit large reservoirs and lakes. As a sensitive species, it has limited tolerance for modified water environments. Its diet primarily consists of green filamentous algae, insect larvae, small mollusks and algal coatings on rocks.

Threats
- Habitat loss due to urbanization, illegal encroachment and pollution .
- Hydropower dams, dredging of river bed materials and river diversion.
- Competition due to introduction of exotic species .
- Overfishing and unauthorized feeding is a serious concern .