Known from Hawai'I Island to Kaua'i(Ref. 58302). Brought to Hawaii during the early 1800s from China; commonly kept and bred in taro patches and in the troughs and barrels used to water farm animals; can still be found in Nu'uanu Reservoir No. 4 and in various plantation reservoirs, but has disappeared in various locations with the introduction of gamefishes like largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and tunacare; presently popular as ornamental fish, but was often used as food and a popular way of preparing it was to scale the fish, rub it with rock salt to remove the muddy, freshwater taste, then cut it up and mix ("lomied") with raw onions and salt (Ref. 44091).

Also Ref. 1972, 7364.