The swallowtail seaperch lives between 15 and 200 m in depth, along rocky slopes and close to caves. They have a preference for seabeds rich in sea fans or red coral.
The swallowtail seaperch feeds on zooplankton (small crustaceans and young fish).
It is a gregarious species that travels in groups. These groups mainly comprise females with a single male, recognizable by his fins which are larger than the females’.
When the male dies, the largest female changes her sex to become a male. Mating takes place from June to October. The male marks his territory, whose surface he cleans for the females to come and lay their sticky eggs. The male then cares for the eggs, providing them with ventilation.
This small, colourful fish belongs to the serranidae family, which also includes groupers.
