 In the breeding season, males and females have the namesake red fins, but males (which are on average a bit larger) also have nuptial tubercles as typical for cyprinids.It is endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa, where it occurs in the Twee River to just before its confluence with the Leeu River, and some tributaries of the former – namely the Heks, upper Middeldeur and upper Suurvlei Rivers.Some have been introduced to dams of farms, but this was too recently to determine whether they thrive or fail in this habitat.