The Bluntnose Darter inhabits small, slowly flowing creeks with bottoms of mud or clay in the eastern part of the Arkansas River system. The creeks may be intermittent during severe drought. This species is also found in oxbows and overflow pools, particularly if they remain clear and have aquatic vegetation.
This fish probably spawns in April or May in Kansas. Little is known of its reproductive habits in the state. They feed off larval insects, especially midges, and microcrustaceans.
Bluntnose Darters occur in only a few places in the Spring and Neosho River basins, always in small numbers.