Myloplus tiete is endemic to Brazil and, in the past, was broadly distributed in the Paraná river Basin. The species is naturally rare and its area of occupancy is fragmented by numerous existing barrages on the Paraná river basin. Therefore, given the small suitable range (minimum AOO based on point data due to known rarity equates to 256 km²) and a degradation of the habitat quality (due to dam activity and pollution), Myloplus tiete was categorized as Near Threatened B2b(iii). 

Myloplus tiete is distributed in the Paraná-Paraguay river basins, Brazil. Originally, the species was distributed across all the high Paraná river system, but apparently it was never a common fish. It is very rare in this basin presently. In São Paulo state, the species has been found frequently in specific localities of the Paraná river. The presence of the species was reported on the main course of Paraná, Ivinhema, Piquiri, Iguatemi rivers, and also in streams, permanent lagoons and temporary puddles. There are no capture records for the Paraguay river basin (ICMBio/MMA 2018).

Today the species is rare in the high Paraná river basin. However, in São Paulo state, the species is still found with some frequency in a few localities in the Paraná river. The species stock generally in the high Paraná river floodplain is however severely reduced, and its capture in the region is considered rare. Further, Myloplus tiete was one of the more abundant five species in Volta Grande reservoir, in Grande river between Minas Gerais and São Paulo. However, this abundance situation is becoming less and less common (ICMBio/MMA 2018). As a result of ongoing threats therefore, the species is considered to be currently decreasing.

The species inhabits mostly rivers (and sometimes permanent lagoons and temporary puddles), feeding on land vegetation, fruits in the flood season and aquatic vegetation in the dry season. The occurrence of M. tiete was recorded from Quilombo river, Mogi-Guaçu river affluent, in a superior part, presenting backwaters, but fast water flow; with sandy muddy bottom, with riparian forests, macrophytes and aquatic grasses. The lower part of the river also presents backwaters, fast waterflow, and sandy muddy bottoms; however the riparian forests are narrow and there are fewer underwater macrophytes. The species is rheophilic with partial egg laying, mostly between June to February. In Grande river region, spawning mainly occurs in three tributaries of the Volta Grande reservoir: Buriti, Divisa and Água Comprida streams. The reproduction of M. tiete occurs between August and February in the Paraná river basin (ICMBio/MMA 2018).

River dams constitute the main threat to the species. Given the nature of its diet, deforestation may also contributed significantly to the population's current decreasing trend. Besides that, the fact that the species is spawning in small to medium size rivers makes it especially susceptible to pollution effects (from domestic, industrial, and agricultural use), given the greater fragility these environments have to pollutant loads. It is important to highlight that the old Paraná river condition, before its damming, conditioned the adaptable characteristics of the species related to reproduction. These alterations, may compromise the abundance of the species in many aspects, including differences to the physical space usage, food abundance, water, and substrate quality. The same could also happen on the other reservoirs (ICMBio/MMA 2018).

There is no information about species use or trade.

Myloplus tiete is listed as a target species in the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Aquatic Fauna Species Threatened with Ecosystem Extinction of Mogi/Pardo/Sapucaí-Mirim/Grande. It is recommended to prioritize the monitoring of superior parts of the Paraná river basin, especially in Paranaíba river affluents and medium size rivers like Piquiri (still not dammed), as the species spawns in smaller size rivers, and thus this may be identified as an important area to the life cycle of the species (ICMBio/MMA 2018).