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 seƱorita 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