All fish / Pomacentridae

Blacksmith

Chromis punctipinnis

Also known as blacksmith chromis, blacksmith damselfish, blacksmith damsel

The blacksmith is a large damselfish from temperate waters, grey-blue to violet with darker-edged scales and black spots on the rear of the dorsal fin and on the tail. Juveniles are bright, with a purple-blue front and a yellow-orange rear. It is mostly seen in public aquariums and in coldwater kelp displays, where it is valued as a hardy, active fish that shoals in open water.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

12 to 20 °C

pH

8 to 8.4

Smallest tank

800 litres

Keep as

Small group of 5 or more in a very large system

Diet

Carnivore: zooplankton such as mysis, krill, brine shrimp, copepods and fine marine pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Pacific: central California, USA, to Baja California, Mexico

Breeding

Males clear a nest on rock, usually in summer, and guard the eggs after females spawn there. Captive breeding is rare and is only really done in large public aquarium systems.

Good to know

This is a coldwater fish that needs a chilled tank, so it will not cope in a tropical reef setup. It grows to around 30 cm in the wild and becomes territorial when nesting.