Eggs take 24 hours to hatch. Upon hatching, the pelagic larvae are less than 2 mm in length. The young, called ""acronuri"", are transparent, silvery, and diamond-shaped. They begin to develop scales and dorsal and anal fins at 2 to 6 mm in length. The caudal spine appears when the larvae reach 13 mm in length. Older acronuri drift to nearshore areas where they meta morphose into juveniles, including losing their silver color, developing a more rounded profile, and developing an elongated snout.

Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis ; indeterminate growth