It is considered to be of low vulnerability, and is distributed throughout much of the western Pacific Ocean, from Java to Fiji, and from the Ryukyu Islands south to the Great Barrier Reef.

Though their bold coloration may stand out, S. nematoptera fish have a peaceful nature that lets them blend perfectly into most community saltwater aquaria.

However, unlike some social fish, this member of the family Apogonidae does not use aggression to exert dominance over other cardinalfish.

[3] Sphaeramia nematoptera is socially monogamous, meaning that any individual male fish will form a long-term bond with just a single female.

The two fish stay close to one another and mate with each other for several breeding cycles, though extra-pair fertilizations have been observed in the species.