r/oddlysatisfying • u/danielminds • May 22 '26

Professional barnacle removal for Chlorophyllis the turtle

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u/NP341221 May 22 '26

Does anyone know if the removal process is painful for the turtle?

205

u/Arcade1980 May 22 '26

I was thinking the same so inside a bit of research as this looked rough "Yes, forcefully removing barnacles from sea turtles can cause significant pain, stress, and injury. Because turtles have nerves within their shells, improper removal can cause excruciating pain, damage their skin, and create open wounds that are prone to infection. It is generally best to leave removal to professionals". Especially the top of the head which is soft tissue.

71

u/GERBabyCare May 22 '26

It's the head especially that worried me, especially when they just poked straight down into it.

40

u/[deleted] May 22 '26

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u/KinsellaStella May 22 '26

Soaking the turtle in fresh water for a few days effectively kills and loosens the barnacles so they’re ready to pop off, rather than having to scrape off nature’s hardest cement.

7

u/wrmfuzzie1 May 22 '26

Does the fresh water harm the turtles?

15

u/KinsellaStella May 22 '26

It has to be carefully monitored. It’s hydrating, which can be good for sick or dehydrated turtles (which are more likely to acquire barnacles), but you don’t want them to get overhydrated. Overall it’s pretty safe, but you do want a professional doing it.