The bats are sociable, roost in large groups during the day and feed at night, squeezing the juice and flesh out of fruits.

They are hunted by humans for food and their numbers have been dwindling, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated the species as being "endangered".

At night, the bats forage in dry woodland for fruit of various trees, such as tamarinds, rose-apples, mangoes, palms, and figs.

Observations in captivity show each dominant male gathers a harem of up to ten females, with which he roosts and mates.

The Rodrigues flying fox is threatened by habitat loss through storm damage and human intervention, and by local hunting for food.