The juvenile of this species are characterised by black with alternating white and blue curved well-spaced stripes on lateral sided. Adults are often golden brown or orange with well-spaced curved horizontal stripes radiating from the base of pectoral fin, running along the sides towards the posterior of dorsal fin. Two similar blue stripes run horizontally across the face, one running through the eye, from above the snout to the edge of the operculum. A blue ring is behind and slightly above the edge of the operculum. Caudal fin is white with bright yellow margin