About Chromis punctipinnis (Cooper, 1863)
This fish, commonly called the blacksmith with the scientific name Chromis punctipinnis (Cooper, 1863), can grow up to 25 centimetres (10 inches) in total length. Its body is blue-black, with small black spots located toward the tail section. It has large scales and a forked tail. Juvenile blacksmith have a two-toned coloration: a blue-grey front half and a brownish-orange rear half. Blacksmith live at depths up to 46 metres (151 feet), and typically stay close to the sea floor, over rocky substrates or on sloped reef areas. They also commonly inhabit kelp forest environments. Blacksmith spawn during the summer and autumn seasons. For reproduction, the male first cleans a nesting site, then herds a female to the prepared nesting area. After spawning is complete, the male guards the fertilized eggs until they hatch.
