This species is found in rich coral reefs in the western central Pacific Ocean, eastern Malay Peninsula, and western Philippine waters.

They are native in 4 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand.

[citation needed] This species is usually yellow in colour with a magenta stripe running along its back.

After eggs are laid, the male aerates them by picking them up in his mouth.

A very skittish addition to any aquarium, one should be wary to keep this species with other fish of similar sizes; if the Pictichromis diadema is the bigger, he will attack them, whereas if he is the smaller, he will hide most of the time.