This species is reef associated and is found from 1-30 m depth. It is commonly found on shallow and deep reefs and exposed rocky ledges. It feeds on various invertebrates. It forms leks during breeding (Allsop and West 2003). It is a protogynous hermaphrodite and a monandric species (Allsop and West 2003). Length at sex change = 7.3 cm TL (Allsop and West 2003).

It is constantly on the move but easily attracted by divers. It is generally of no interest to fisheries because of its small average size (Cervigón et al. 1992).