I see lots of questions about barnacles in my comments and am here to answer them! 1. Does it hurt the turtle to remove barnacles? No. Barnacles grow on the outside of the shell, so removing them is a lot like removing something that's been weighing you down rather than treating an injury. While they do have nerve endings throughout their shell allowing them to feel, it’s almost similar to scratching an itch on your back! Many of the turtles that arrive for rehab are carrying pounds of barnacles. Imagine wearing a heavy backpack everywhere you go causing aches and uncomfortable pains and then finally getting to take it off!People also notice that turtles sometimes wiggle or move during the cleaning process and assume it's because they're in pain. In reality, it's usually the same reason we shift around in a barber's chair, dentist's chair, or at our desk after sitting still for a while. They're simply readjusting their position!🪑 2. Why are barnacles bad for sea turtles in large quantities? Barnacle build up causes turtles to swim slower in the water! If they can’t move efficiently, it can make it harder for them to avoid predators, catch prey, and make it to the surface to breathe! 🤿🫧 Additionally, they can burrow into the turtles shells deep enough to cause discomfort 🤕 3. How do barnacles end up on sea turtles? We often times see large quantities of barnacles settled on turtles that aren’t feeling too well. Sea turtles that are sick spend more time resting on the bottom of the ocean rather than actively swimming through the water. This allows barnacles to settle on their shell, making it increasingly difficult to heal and swim. Have more questions about barnacles? Have questions about sea turtle rehab? Drop them in the comments and I’ll make a Q&A answering them all! #seaturtle #rehabilitation #conservation #barnacles #womeninstem - @sarah_kamen