T. insignis is exclusively freshwater and is endemic to the lower Rio Magdalena river basin of Colombia.
It lives close to the bottom of whatever body of water it inhabits and prefers as pH range of 6.0–7.2 as well as water between 23 and 38 °C (73 and 100 °F), temperatures common for waters at tropical latitudes  It can be found in rivers of all sizes, as well as smaller creeks and floodplains.
T. insignis is exclusively freshwater and is endemic to the lower Rio Magdalena river basin of Colombia. It lives close to the bottom of whatever body of water it inhabits and prefers as pH range of 6.0–7.2 as well as water between 23 and 38 °C (73 and 100 °F), temperatures common for waters at tropical latitudes  It can be found in rivers of all sizes, as well as smaller creeks and floodplains.
Trachelyopterus insignis