The Asprete is endemic to Europe , where it is now restricted to the Argeș River in southern Romania. The species has a restricted extent of occurrence (EOO) c. 20 km² within which it occurs within one location where the quality of habitat is estimated to be undergoing continuing decline. This species is therefore assessed as Critically Endangered under Criterion B (B1ab(iii)).

This species is native to the Argeș River, a left-bank tributary of the Danube River in southern Romania. It formerly occurred in the upper Argeș main stem plus the Vâlsan tributary system, but is currently restricted to a single location comprising an approximately five-kilometre stretch of the latter (see 'Threats').

Reports that it once inhabited the Râul Doamnei River, another affluent of the upper Argeș located adjacent to the Vâlsan, have never been confirmed.

This species' current population size and trend have not been quantified. It had been extirpated from the majority of its known range since the mid-20^th century (see 'Threats') with only a few individuals remaining by the late 1990s.

Management actions that took place around the turn of the century (see 'Conservation') saw the estimated population size increase to to c. 200 individuals in 2003, but a lack of ongoing management led to abundance decreasing once more.

Recent field observations suggest that the single remaining subpopulation may comprise fewer than 50 individuals, but this requires confirmation.

This strictly benthic, rheophilic species inhabits clean, cool, well-oxygenated river reaches with well-washed substrata comprising coarse gravel, cobbles and boulders.

It is typically found in riffles and runs at intermediate depth (0.3–1.8 m) in stretches with moderate to fast water flow (0.3-0.9 m/s)

It is territorial, partially nocturnal, and believed to naturally exist at low densities.

Its life history is poorly understood, but the annual reproductive period is understood to extend from May to July, during which period male individuals develop breeding tubercules on the head. The eggs are deposited on or beneath stones, and fecundity has been estimated at 120-150 eggs per individual female.

Its diet is composed of epibenthic invertebrates typical of unclogged lotic environments such as Ephemeroptera, particularly larvae of the Olive Upright (Rhithrogena semicolorata), and Plecoptera.

This species' decline has been driven by habitat modification and pollution from domestic and industrial sources.

In particular, a hydroelectric dam was from 1960-1966 built upstream of its known habitats on the Argeș River using large quantities of sand and stones from the inhabited stretch. Once the dam became operational, the riverbed downstream was desiccated for a substantial period of time and led to the extirpation of the local subpopulation despite efforts to translocate live individuals elsewhere.

A smaller dam, also located upstream of the Asprete's known range, was constructed on the upper Vâlsan River during the same period. As a result, the discharge of the river below the dam fell from 1.3-4.0 m³/sec to 0.6-1.2 m³/sec from 1966-1994. In the 1980s a mine was opened adjacent to the river from which effluents were discharged directly into the river.

In addition, the increasing regulation of the Vâlsan as it passes through settlements has eradicated vital morphological features such as rapids and riffles, while harvesting of gravel and stones continues to negatively affect habitat quality despite having been prohibited since the early 2000s.

Certain land management practices, e.g., removal of riparian vegetation, and the periodic flushing of dam lakes have resulted in increased soil erosion and siltation. This has led to gravel beds becoming clogged and a decline in the macrobenthic community, further reducing the extent of suitable sites for foraging and spawning.

Illegal logging in the Făgăraș Mountains, including the upper Vâlsan River Valley, resulted in the opening of a recent (2020) infringement procedure by the European Commission. It is unclear if the latter activities have affected the habitat of the Asprete, but removal of old growth forest could plausibly increase the rate of soil erosion.

Pollution from untreated domestic wastewater, a hospital and local dairy producers is continuing to affect water quality and may limit downstream dispersal, while the unlawful dumping of household waste is also ongoing.

Official regulations stating that a minimum flow rate must be maintained below the Vâlsan hydroelectric dam are not being observed.

This species is not used or traded.

This species is included in Appendix II of the Bern Convention and Annex II of the European Union Habitats Directive. It is nationally-protected in Romania.

The occupied stretch of the Vâlsan River is located entirely within a national nature reserve (Vâlsan Valley, site 2125) plus two sites (Făgăraș Mountains, site ROSCI0122 and Valea Vâlsanului, site ROSCI0268) that are included within the European Union's Natura 2000 network (but see 'Threats').

This species was the focus of a European Union co-funded LIFE project entitled 'Romanichthys' (LIFE 99 NAT/RO/006429) from 1999-2003, which aimed to restore favourable ecological conditions in the Vâlsan River. Specific actions included habitat restoration through the addition of stones to the inhabited river stretch, establishment of a guaranteed minimum flow below the Vâlsan hydroelectric dam, removal of waste and establishment of particular sites for garbage disposal, and introduction of fines for fly-tipping offenders. A public awareness campaign included billboards, lessons in local schools, a film, radio broadcasts and printed materials. The removal of wood and stones from the riparian zone and river itself was banned.

Unsuccessful attempts to breed the Asprete in captivity took place during the 1990s and 2000s.

In 2019 the conservation programme 'Asprete Lives' was launched, and in 2020 a draft species action plan was submitted to the Romanian government. The project's objectives are to establish a research and ex situ breeding centre in the Vâlsan Valley, improve the ecological quality of the Vâlsan River to drive expansion of the resident subpopulation, reintroduce the species to the Argeș and Râul Doamnei River following proposed habitat restoration efforts, engage the local community, and facilitate enforcement of environmental laws at the local scale. Monitoring and research efforts were underway as of 2022.