Encountered singly, in pairs or small groups. Juveniles may form schools.
Mouth structure in males is different from females. Males can open mouth relatively wider than females to facilitate mouthbrooding during breeding season.
Study in Japan reported that spawning occurs in pairs. Immediately after the release of a cohesive egg mass, the male takes it into his mouth, the paternal mouthbrooding of the egg mass continues for 5 – 17 days until hatching. Males spend 80% of spawning season mouthbrooding.
Filial cannibalism occasionally reported to occur where males consume the entire brood.
Description
Body colouration whitish to pink.
Four to five brownish-orange dark horizontal stripes running along the body to the base of caudal fin.
A prominent dark spot is present at the base caudal fin.
