It prefers shallow waters with rock rubble substrates.

This species is rheophilic, preferring to live in shallow, fast waters with a rubble substrate.

This percid darter needs fresh-flowing water with a clean gravel and mixed rubble substrate.

Phormosoma placenta is a gregarious species and can sometimes be found aggregating in large groups on sand and coral rubble substrates.

Carmine Shiners typically summer at midwater depths of clear, fast flowing streams and small rivers over clean gravel or rubble substrates.