Recent studies have led to the recognition ofGalaxias depressicepsand reinstatement ofGalaxias anomalus. The two species maintain near allopatric distributions and it has been suggested that spawning habitat availability, at least partially, controls the distribution of these species. The spawning habitat of each species was determined and an assessment of the influence of spawning habitat availability on the distribution of the two species was carried out. Factors that may have influenced the onset of spawning were also examined. We found thatG. depressicepsselected spawning sites with a high proportion of boulder substrata and nests were found on the underside of or between boulders.G. anomalusspawned within the streambed substrata, under boulders or cobbles, in shallow water and narrow channels relative to the available habitat. Suitable boulder spawning substratum forG. depressicepsin theG. anomalussites was limited and this supports the hypothesis that spawning habitat availability influencesG. depressicepsdistribution. ConverselyG. anomalusspawning habitat was available inG. depressicepsstreams, indicating that spawning habitat limitations are not restrictingG. anomalus. The onset of spawning, for both species, did not appear to be related to daylight, phase of the moon, or stream water level, but all species started spawning as water temperatures rose. The proximity ofG. anomalusspawning sites to the stream edge and their occurrence in poorly consolidated substrata presents two management issues. Water abstraction may expose spawning sites if stream water levels are lowered, and these sites are vulnerable to trampling by stock.