In late winter the male selects a rock face and clears it of invertebrates and unsuitable algae, biting off and carrying away what he does not want. Over weeks he encourages a short turf of particular red algal species, trimming it to a low, even nap. The finished nest is a visibly tended patch on an otherwise cluttered reef.
Females tour multiple nests and lay in some and not others. Nest quality, and especially the presence of eggs already deposited, influences the choice, so a male with existing clutches attracts further spawning. The male then guards and aerates the eggs and will drive off much larger fish and divers that approach.
The garibaldi is California's official state marine fish and is protected from commercial and sport take in California waters, largely because its bright colour and site fidelity made it an easy target for the aquarium trade. Its longevity is notable for a damselfish: individuals have been recorded living well over a decade, some estimates reaching twenty-five years or more.