It is freshwater food fish found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and in Mekong basin. The fish prefers to stay in active currents and hence generally found in up streams of large rivers in hilly tracts. The species has been recorded to grow a maximum length of 90.0 cm. Herbivorous  and feeds on algae and plankton. The fish matures in one year and sexes are distinct during breeding season. It lay large number of semi-buoyant eggs once during monsoon. Captive breeding of the fish has been attained. The fish has been put under IUCN Red List under the category ''Least vulnerable'' due to severe decline in its population.