Female incubates eggs in her mouth. Optimum temperature 23 to 28 degrees centigrade. Spawn 3 or more times per year with 1500 to 4300 eggs produced per year. Eggs hatch in 3 to 5 days and female guards fry for an additional 8 to 10 days after hatching. Fry eat zooplankton.
Adults eat zooplankton and phytoplankton, and graze on bottom organisms.
They also eat manufactured food. Prefers temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees centigrade. Low temperature tolerance 8 to 9 degrees centigrade. Grows well up to salinities of 16 to 20 parts per thousand. Female incubates eggs in her mouth.