[4][7] The species is distinguished by its bluish mid-lateral stripe contrasting an orange or reddish body.

[3] A caudal fin is present,[3] which is rounded with a white outline, the inside mostly black.

[8] It has been found in the Indo-Pacific and Western Pacific, inhabiting reef crevices.

[8] They frequently hover in pairs, advertising their presence by swimming in an undulating motion above the substrate and bobbing up and down in the water column, this seems to be to attract larger fish to them to be cleaned and they have been observed picking parasites off moray eels.

[11] During mating, the females deposit eggs into the male's brooding pouch, which located on its underside.

[8] The blue-and-orange cleaner pipefish's diet includes zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, and parasites from other fishes.