The species, as presently known, has penetrated into many areas of South Africa from the highhveld Limpopo to upland Natal, Eastern Cape and the upper and middle Orange River basin which includes the arid Karoo. I have witnessed this barb migrating up a mere 'trickle' of water in the Karoo, obviously taking a chance by penetrating into very small, temporary streams. Introduced piscivorus fish reduce numbers in populations exposed to these non-native species. As it is such as widespread species it occurs in a number of habitats, from clear, rocky upland streams to turbid man- made impoundments with silt substratums in the Karoo. It is a minnow and small size is known to be an adaptation to a highly variable environment as it makes new food sources available by allowing ready access to spatially restricted habitats.
Juveniles inhabit sheltered areas such as erosion gullies and vegetated areas in streams.
In areas with fish predators when cover, such as logs and vegetation, is present it will be found in their shelter. Due to its cryptic colouration, for most of the year, it survives in the presence of native predators such as the sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus . In the Orange River the barb has to be adapted to a riverine system with erratic flows, devastating floods and high silt loads. Barbus anoplus has both an early maturity, one year at 40mm FL, and a high reproductive rate which enables it to quickly colonize new areas. Peak spawning usually occurs after periods of steady rainfall.