Blacksmith
Chromis punctipinnis

Physical Description

• Long perch-shaped fish.
• Back is dark blue, almost black in color; sides are bluish-gray.
• Have a long and undivided dorsal (back) fin.
• Scales from mid-body to tail, as well as dorsal and tail fins, have black spots on them.
• Often have a light blue border visible around the fins.
• Adult males guarding eggs change to be almost white in color with dark band around each eye.
• Juvenile blacksmiths are brighter, with blue-black coloration with a light-brown or orange tail.

Range

• Monterey Bay, California to Punta San Pablo, Baja California, Mexico.
• Most common south of Point Conception, California.

Habitat

• Found in inshore waters.
• Prefer rocky reefs and manmade structures like oil rigs.
• Often gather at night in small crevices, caves, under ledges, or other protected spaces.
• Young fish are often in kelp beds.
• Found at depths of 270 feet, but more common from surface to 147.5 feet.

Reproduction

• Believed to be sexually mature around 2 years old and 5 inches long.
• Spawning mainly in the summer.
• Male prepares a nesting area, female lays salmon-colored eggs.
• Male guards the eggs until they hatch and join plankton as larvae.
• Male guarding eggs changes color to be almost white in color with dark band around each eye.

Diet

• Zooplankton: copepods, eggs, larvae of other animals.

Predators

• Least terns, cormorants, bald eagles, California sea lions, harbor seals, and larger fish.

Interesting Facts

• Blacksmith often school in large numbers in open water.
• Blacksmith let señorita fish and some surfperch clean them, and juvenile blacksmith sometimes clean other fish.

Sources: Aquarium of the Pacific; Oregon Coast Aquarium; Pierfishing.com

Photo: Derek Tarr