Hottentot Seabream

Fascinating facts about the Hottentot Seabream

• A 25-centimetre fish is ready to breed and some individuals grow to 54 cm and weigh up to 2.67 kg. It has a bronze-grey body and dark fins and lives in kelp forests and shallow reefs.
• Most individuals live around 12 years, with some reaching up to 21 years, and the generation length is about 9 years.
• It eats seaweed, algae, crustaceans, worms, molluscs, sea urchins and small fish, and occurs in kelp beds, rocky reefs and deeper pinnacles down to 55 m.
• It may spawn all year round, with peaks in summer and winter.
• It is a frequent host of the parasitic isopod Anilocra capensis.

At a glance

About the Hottentot Seabream

The hottentot seabream, Pachymetopon blochii, glides through the kelp-laden reefs of southwestern Africa with a bronzy-grey sheen that catches the dappled light, its darker fins a subtle contrast. Its small mouth, armed with five rows of incisors on both jaws but no molars, hints at a versatile palate; adults typically reach 25 cm at maturity, though some individuals grow to 54 cm and weigh as much as 2.67 kg. Juveniles linger among the swaying kelp, while adults patrol shallow rocky reefs, blinders, subtidal zones, and even offshore pinnacles down to 55 m, showcasing a remarkable adaptability to both near-shore and deeper habitats. A true generalist, the hottentot feasts on seaweeds, algae, crustaceans, worms, molluscs, sea urchins, and occasional small fish, turning the reef into a bustling buffet. It spawns year-round, with pronounced peaks in summer and winter, and can live to about 12 years, though some reach 21, yielding a generation length of roughly nine years. A surprising twist in its life story is its role as a frequent host to the parasitic isopod Anilocra capensis, a hidden partnership that underscores the complex web of reef ecology, pulling the reader toward the next unseen interaction on the ocean floor

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