Colonies of M. goodii are smooth to mucoid, off-white to cream coloured.

in After 10–14 days incubation, 78% of all strains produce a yellow or orange pigment.

[citation needed] Strains of M. goodii show rapid growth on Middlebrook 7H10 and trypticase soy agar at 30 °C, 35 °C and 45 °C within 2–4 days.

M. goodii is found in many of the same settings as M. smegmatis and members of the M. fortuitum complex.

It can cause post-traumatic wound infections especially those following open fractures and with associated osteomyelitis and chronic lipoid pneumonia.