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Spikedace, Meda fulgida, used habitat in several southwestern desert streams in proportion to availability of habitat types. Velocity of water occupied by spikedace did not increase with increased stream size. Schools of > 10 spikedace frequented deeper (mean 27 cm) and slower-moving (< 25 cm/s) waters characterized by eddying currents and shear zones often associated with stream gradient adjustments. Comparison of habitat used by spikedace both with that described in the literature and that measured in one southwestern stream for the introduced red shiner, Notropis lutrensis, suggests habitat partitioning may occur when these two cyprinids co-occur in a stream.