T. erythraeum was isolated off the coast of North Carolina. It resides in tropical and subtropical areas of the ocean typically from the surface to 40m however they can travel as deep as 200 m in search of nutrients. They have a pH optima of 7.8–8.4 and an optimal temperature of 24–30 degrees Celsius in aerobic conditions. T. erythraeum can, however, survive in lower temperatures and through periods of darkness.
