Ladyfish occur the full length of both coasts, ranging from the open sea off beaches and shorelines, to inlets and bays, and for up coastal streams. They seem to have no preferred surroundings, but follow wherever good feeding conditions take them whether over shallow flats or in deep holes and channels. They love to feed at night and are common around lighted areas of piers and docks. They often gather in large schools. Occur in shallow neritic areas, over muddy bottoms. Also found in brackish estuaries and juveniles are common in lagoons and hyper-saline bays. Form large schools close to the shore . Feed mainly on crustaceans and small fishes. Spawn in the open sea. Larval development is represented by profound changes in body form accompanied by 2 periods of length increase, interspaced by a period of length decrease. Noted for their habit of skipping along the surface of the water and for jumping after being hooked