 It is collected and traded for aquaria, typically when young, but it must be remembered that this is only a fish for the largest of tanks if it shall thrive.The spawning adults are fished for local food and for trade.Although "L. johnstonii" is widespread and not considered a threatened species by the IUCN, catching the fishes when they migrate to spawn and not when they return as well as the use of fish poisons (which is illegal but still practiced in places) is probably depleting its numbers faster than they can recover.