The potential role of visual cues for microhabitat selection during the early life phase of a coral reef fish (Lutjanus fulviflamma)

► Visual cues are important for early-stage fish to select suitable habitat. ► Fish preferred coral fragments and seagrass shoots above mangrove roots. ► Conspecifics and heterospecifics had an additive effect on microhabitat selection. ► Attraction towards conspecifics was larger in non-preferred than in preferred habitat. ► Fish preferred conspecifics of 1 cm larger body size but not of 2 or 3 cm larger size.