A marine and brackish water fish living at depths of 1-50 m; juveniles are common in estuarine grassland areas. They are usually solitary and territorial in sandy areas. They feed on calcareous, fleshy or coralline algae, detritus, molluscs, tunicates, sponges, zoanthid corals, anemones, crabs, worms and echinoderms. They have two fleshy tentacles on their nostrils and small spines covering their whole body except the snout and caudal peduncle.

These fish can swell when irritated or in danger.

They are poisonous for human consumption as they have a poison in their skin and internal organs that paralyses the musculature and blocks breathing.

Conservation status