 Red Irish lords are sculpins, and therefore benthic, bottom-dwelling fish that inhabit mostly shallow waters, but can live at deeper depths.They prefer a coastal, rocky habitat in reefs and shallow areas in the intertidal zone up to about in depth, but their distribution can range all the way up to .Their hunting strategy and camouflaged coloration lend themselves to hiding at the sea floor among sand, rocks and other marine life, while waiting to ambush prey.