Garibaldi

Spawning season is from March through July, with several spawning cycles possibly occurring over the season. An adult male garibaldi creates a nest by clearing an area on the rocks and collecting specific species of red algae. The male works to remove all other algae and debris. After completing the nest, he tries to invite a female to mate by performing an elaborate courtship dance, in which he swims a series of circles around the nest. When he is prepared for the female to come to the nest and lay her eggs, he makes several clicking noises. If the female approves of the male and the nest, she swims over and lays 15,000 to 80,000 bright yellow eggs in the nest site. The male then chases the female away so she won’t eat her own eggs. The male then fertilizes the eggs and defends the nests until the eggs hatch. Several females may deposit eggs in the same nest and a female may deposit eggs in several different nests. Females prefer to lay eggs next to other batches of fresh yellow eggs.

Eggs hatch in two to three weeks. The larvae then disperse and float in the ocean currents. By late summer and fall, young garibaldi can be found in shallow waters.

A garibaldi may live up to 17 years, but their life span is usually about 12 years or less.