The eggs are transparent, spherical, and pelagic, each containing a single droplet of oil to provide buoyancy. The eggs hatch in 15 to 20 hours after fertilization. The young enter a sort of pre-larval stage, where they lack functional eyes, fins, and a gut. The larvae are still attached to a large yolk sac. The yolk is absorbed in two days, during which time the young become fully functional and free swimming larvae.
Growth is rapid and three to four weeks after hatching a juvenile rock beauty settles on the reef.
The juveniles are very territorial but, unlike other angelfish, they do not set up cleaning stations. They are thought to feed on planktonic animals, small invertebrates, and even mucus secreted from other fish. Developement of the rock beauty larvae. A rock beauty juvenile. The juveniles share the same colors of the adults but not the same pattern.