Do Barnacles Hurt Turtles? (9 Important Facts)

Turtles are very exotic animals, their body and their peaceful nature are what makes them such favorable pets. However, when it comes to sea turtles one of the most talked-about topics is barnacles attached to sea turtles.

Many curious minds often ask about turtles and barnacles being natural animal partners.

Do barnacles hurt turtles? It depends on each turtle. Sometimes, barnacles can benefit the turtle by shaping their shell, while sometimes they can deteriorate their shell. Generally, a barnacle won’t hurt turtles but sometimes these barnacles get deep into the shell of turtles leaving wounds for infections. A turtle covered with barnacles is very bad. However, owners should never try to remove barnacles on their own. They should call the turtle rehabilitation center.

What Are Barnacles And Why Do They Attach To Turtles?

What are barnacles on a turtle? A barnacle is a small sticky crustacean that is related to the shrimp and crab family. These greyish-white creatures live on surfaces as hard as a rock, piling, hulls, etc. Though they seem dangerous, they are very sensitive to dry and cold weather.

An adult barnacle can be called a filter feeder. They will eat plankton, or debris in the water. A barnacle will use its legs to pull out the food from the water. So it can be said that they will thrive only in moving water.

As mentioned above, goose barnacles on turtles are attached because they need to attach to hard surfaces and need constant water movement, which is the reason why a turtle’s back would be an ideal space to stay on for barnacles.

Do Barnacles Hurt Turtles?

Do barnacles hurt turtles? No, the majority of barnacles on sea turtles won’t hurt them.  Barnacles won’t hurt a turtle because they are attached to the outer skin or shell of the turtle. However, some barnacles can even get deep into the skin of the turtle, these barnacles can cause some serious discomfort and even create open wounds, which would further be deteriorated by the infections.

Are barnacles good for turtles? No, If the turtle is covered with excessive barnacles, it can be bad. It is also a symptom of poor turtle health. Generally, a turtle is deliberated first and then only becomes covered in an excess amount of other microorganisms like algae or barnacles.

However, a turtle is a very resilient animal that can recover in many cases from these infestations. 

Do Barnacles Harm Sea Turtles?

Generally, a barnacle may not harm sea turtles but having many barnacles attached to the sea turtle is bad. How do barnacles affect sea turtles? A barnacle can get attached to the shell very tightly, causing discomfort and disruption in their daily life.

How To Properly Remove Barnacles From Turtles?

Are barnacles dangerous to turtles if I remove them? It is not advisable to remove the barnacles on your own. It can be harmful to turtles when someone forcefully removes these barnacles. If possible, you can call a local turtle rehabilitation center, which will provide special care to the turtle as they require it. There are many videos of barnacles on turtles removal which should be avoided.

When the owner removes the barnacle, it risks deteriorating its shell because its plastron and carapace are soft. When more and more barnacles are attached to the turtles, it becomes more and more important to treat these barnacles carefully without hurting the turtles.

Furthermore, parasitic barnacles on turtles will most often cause severe damage, if separated from the shell and they can even leave a wound for infections and bacteria to take home. So, only an experienced professional should remove these barnacles by keeping in mind the various things that need to be considered.

Are Barnacles On Turtles Harmful To Remove?

Are barnacles harmful to remove? In the US, removing barnacles would require you to have a permit. Without a permit, you cannot remove barnacles and it would be considered a violation of the endangered species act.

Do barnacles hurt turtles and how to save them? It is best to call on a turtle rehabilitation center rather than doing it on your own. In these centers, barnacles aren’t removed by scrappers or any other tool, but naturally, which won’t hurt the turtles. In these centers, turtles are kept in freshwater, which staggers the growth of barnacles and the algae would come off the turtle. Keeping the turtle in freshwater makes it easier for them to remove barnacles.

Additionally, these centers regularly take blood tests, to check for the ill effect of the procedure or barnacles themselves. With good care in these centers, a turtle would recover within a few weeks and assimilate back into the ocean.

Why Do Barnacles Attach To Turtles?

Barnacles attach to the turtles because they need to attach themselves to a hard surface. It can be a rock, turtle shell or anything like that. Attaching to a hard spot is very important for them to survive, which is the reason why they attach to turtles.

Further, another reason why a barnacle may attach to a turtle is that they don’t move to get their food. They need continuously moving water to grab the food. A turtle is always moving, which is another reason why a barnacle would attach to the turtle.

How Do Turtles Remove Barnacles?

How do turtles get rid of barnacles? Turtles cannot remove barnacles on their own. Though barnacles don’t get that deep into the shell of turtles, they can be itchy or hunting sometimes but turtles cannot remove them by themselves.

Some people consider that when a female is mating with a male, barnacles from the female shell get removed due to rubbing.

Does Removing Barnacles Hurt Turtles?

Are barnacles on turtles bad to remove? Yes, if removed improperly, removing barnacles can hurt turtles, and even lead to open wounds which can cause harmful infections.

So it is not recommended to remove barnacles with a plucker or a cutter as shown in most of the YouTube videos.

It is best to call the local turtle rehabilitation center. They will treat these barnacles more naturally by taking care of turtles on case to case basis.

Does Barnacles Hurt Turtles?

Do Barnacles Hurt Turtles? In most cases, barnacles won’t hurt the turtles because they are only attached to the shell of the turtles. Are barnacles dangerous to turtles? Sometimes, barnacles get into the shell, which is discomforting and sometimes painful for turtles. It can also leave an open wound, which can further lead to infections in turtles.

Does Removing Barnacles From Turtles Hurt Them?

Do Barnacles Hurt Turtles? Yes, Turtle barnacles removal from turtles can hurt them. The barnacles get attached to the shell of turtles very strongly and they won’t let go of turtles that easily. Especially when removing barnacles from the soft tissues, barnacles can hurt a lot when they are removed.

Is It Good To Remove Barnacles From Turtles?

Is removing barnacles from turtles bad? For a normal person, it is illegal to remove barnacles from turtles in the USA. However, if you see a turtle that has barnacles on it, you should contact the turtle rehabilitation centre and they will take care of it according to the scenario.

To answer, if removing or not removing barnacles is good, it should be noted that it depends on case to case basis. Sometimes barnacles get into the shell, which is discomforting and hurting turtles, while in some cases having barnacles is good for turtles.

Only an expert can understand if the barnacles should be removed or not from the turtles’ shells. This is the reason it is recommended to always contact a turtle rehabilitation center when faced with a turtle full of barnacles.

Is It Good To Remove Barnacles From Turtles?

How do turtles remove barnacles? Yes, it can be good removing barnacles from turtles but not by someone who isn’t a professional. Furthermore, it is also banned to remove barnacles from turtles with barnacles in the USA. So it is best to never remove barnacles on your own rather, consult a local turtle rehabilitation center.

How Do Barnacles Attach?

What do barnacles do to turtles? A barnacles and sea turtles relationship is very common. A barnacle is always looking for a hard surface to stay on. To find an ideal place, they are seen moving along the water.

When they find an ideal place like the shell of turtles, they often sit on their shell by secreting glue. This glue is so strong that barnacles’ bases often remain attached to turtles for a long time, even after the death of the barnacle.

What Do Barnacles Do?

Are barnacles bad for turtles? Barnacles come from the family of crustaceans. They are the only sea creatures because they are considered filtering organisms. A barnacle is a suspension feeder that will eat dissolved detritus or plankton.

So, they are considered a vital part of the ocean to clean the water for other creatures. They are seen living on animals like turtles, though barnacles effect on turtles isn’t a lot they are considered bad for turtles.

Why Do Sea Turtles Get Barnacles On Them?

Why do sea turtles get barnacles? Because a turtle has a hard shell surface to sit on and the reason a turtle is always moving makes it an ideal home for barnacles.

Overall, the shell of a turtle is hard enough for barnacles to sit comfortably and their movement is good enough to provide them with food. Are barnacles dangerous? Having too many barnacles attached to the wheel is dangerous for turtles.

Why Do Barnacles Stick To Turtles?

The barnacles on turtles always keep moving, which is essential for them because continuous movement will help barnacles to have their food from various sources of places through the turtle.

Is It Safe To Remove Barnacles From Turtles?

Do Barnacles Hurt Turtles when removing them? No, it is not safe removing turtle barnacles, if the sea turtle barnacles are being removed by a normal person. A professional needs to understand the situation of the turtle and give them the required treatment to get the barnacle removed.

Removing barnacles on turtles with a scrapper or plucker isn’t recommended at all. It will hurt the turtles and leave open wounds. Furthermore, it is banned to remove barnacles from turtles if you don’t have a permit to do so. So, it is better to never remove barnacles by yourself rather than call a turtle rehabilitation center.

How Do Barnacles Hurt Turtles?

How Do Barnacles Hurt Turtles? Sometimes, a barnacle may get deep into the shell of the turtle and when removed it may leave an open wound, homing infections and causing risk to the life of turtles.

Final Verdict – Do Barnacles Hurt Turtles

Do barnacles hurt turtles? Generally, a barnacle won’t hurt turtles, in a few cases, barnacles help the turtles. However, if the barnacle is attached deep into the shell of the turtle, it can leave an open wound for infections to make a home. Further, a barnacle can also cause discomfort in turtles. If the owner has a shell covered With barnacles it is very harmful.

Overall, to answer, do barnacles hurt turtles? It depends from case to case but owners should not intervene in removing barnacles by themselves as it may hurt the turtles more than help. Sometimes, they could just act as natural animal partners. It is best to call a nearby turtle rehabilitation center.

As a pet lover, make sure to learn about pet more and give your pet turtle a good and comfortable life!

Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️