Biology

Adults inhabit clear lagoons, passages, and seaward reef slopes, in thickets of live or dead coral. They occur in large aggregations feeding above staghorn Acropora corals (Ref. 9710). Stomach contents of individuals examined included mainly copepods, amphipods, and zoea. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205). Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205).