Female incubates eggs in her mouth. Optimum temperature 23 to 28 degrees centigrade. Can breed 6 to 12 times per year with 2000 to 10,000 eggs produced per year. Eggs hatch in 2 to 5 days and the female guards the young for an additional 8 to 10 days. Fry eat zooplankton.
Adults eat zooplankton, phytoplankton and manufactured food.
Optimum temperature is 25 to 30 degrees centigrade. Low temperature tolerance is 10 to 12 degrees centigrade. Spawn and grow well in full strength sea water. Female incubates eggs in her mouth. Optimum temperature 25 to 29 degrees centigrade.