Sargassum Seaweed is Good for Hermit Crabs and Coastal Ecosystems
Hint: Sargassum seaweed is very beneficial to land hermit crabs and other coastal creatures
Sargassum seaweed is good for hermit crabs; it’s a natural part of their diet in the wild. If you’ve ever been to a Florida beach, you’ve probably seen brown clumps of Sargassum. It’s very common, and some people complain about it because they don’t understand how beneficial it truly is to the coastal ecosystem.
Be happy when you see Sargassum on the beach. These brown clumps of seaweed are amazingly beneficial to the coastal ecosystem they wash up onto.
This type of seaweed is a brown macroalgae that grows in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. This seaweed is known for its ability to form large floating rafts or mats, which can be seen drifting across the ocean. These rafts are teeming with life, providing a habitat and food source for a wide variety of marine organisms.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the journey of Sargassum seaweed from its origins in the ocean to the shores it washes up onto, and how it benefits purple pincher hermit crabs!
We’ll also list some of the living organisms commonly found in Sargassum rafts and discuss the ecological significance of these floating communities.
How Sargassum Seaweed Grows
Sargassum seaweed originates in the Sargasso Sea, a region of the North Atlantic Ocean that is bounded by four major currents. The seaweed grows in large clusters attached to hard surfaces, such as rocks or coral reefs, and can grow up to over 30 feet in length. Unlike other types of seaweed, Sargassum is unique in that it can detach from its substrate and form large floating rafts or mats.
As the Sargassum rafts drift across the ocean, they provide a habitat for a wide range of organisms. Many species of fish, including mahi-mahi, triggerfish, and jacks, are known to associate with Sargassum rafts, as are sea turtles, marine birds, and even whales.
Living Organisms in Sargassum Seaweed Clumps
Sargassum seaweed rafts float across the ocean collecting a diverse array of living organisms. Some of the common species that can be found in Sargassum seaweed include:
- Shrimp
- Crabs
- Jellyfish
- Sea turtles
- Fish
These organisms can be found both on and within the seaweed, using it for food, shelter and protection.
Why Sargassum Seaweed Clumps Washing up on Shore is GOOD
Purple Pincher Hermit Crabs and Sargassum Seaweed
Purple pincher hermit crabs (Coenobita clypeatus) are a species of land hermit crab found in the Caribbean and other areas with warm, tropical climates. They live along the coastline where they live on land, but reproduce at the edge of the ocean.
These crabs are known to scavenge on a variety of foods, including many of the creatures that hitchhike within these clumps of Sargassum seaweed that wash ashore. Tiny shrimp, copepods, fish, snails and the seaweed itself is all natural food for purple pincher hermit crabs in their natural habitat. Sargassum seaweed is good for hermit crabs as it contains lots of nutritious food items they love to eat in their natural habitat.
Do YOU have purple pincher hermit crabs? They are the most common hermit crab pet in the U.S.! Here’s my post on types of hermit crab pets with photos, here.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the Benefits of Sargassum Seaweed Washing up on Beaches, especially for hermit crabs
Q: Is Sargassum seaweed harmful to humans or pets?
A: Sargassum seaweed is not harmful to humans or pets. Whether encountering floating Sargassum across the ocean or when it washes up on shore, it should be respected as having many benefits to the coastal environment.
Q: What should I do if I see a lot of Sargassum seaweed washing up on shore?
A: Sargassum seaweed clumps (also known as rafts or mats) naturally float across the ocean over long periods of time until they finally wash up on a beach or shoreline. Sargassum plays an essential role in the coastal ecosystem and is essential for a variety of marine life. When you see Sargassum seaweed washed up on the shore, leave it alone so it can provide the food, shelter and other benefits that it’s naturally supposed to provide to that ecosystem.
Q: Do hermit crabs eat Sargassum seaweed?
A Hermit crabs certainly eat Sargassum seaweed in the wild, but they are mostly interested in the hitchhiking organisms found within the Sargassum clumps like . require other nutrients and food sources as well. In the wild, hermit crabs are omnivores and will eat a variety of foods, including other small animals, algae, and detritus which are all found inside newly washed up clumps of Sargassum along the shoreline, where hermit crabs live.
Q: What other creatures might I see if I spot a clump of Sargassum seaweed on the beach?
A: Sargassum seaweed rafts and mats are home to a variety of creatures, including shrimp, crabs, seahorses, snails, small fish, jellyfish and sea turtles as well as tiny copepods. You might also see birds like pelicans or seagulls feeding on the organisms in and around the seaweed.
How does sargassum seaweed contribute to the larger marine ecosystem? Sargassum seaweed plays a crucial role in the marine ecosystem. It acts as a floating habitat for a variety of marine life, including juvenile fish and sea turtles, and lots of other small creatures. Then, when it washes up on shore, it continues it’s importance for this new coastal ecosystem as a food source for birds, hermit crabs and lots of other life.
Sargassum seaweed, washed up onshore also helps to stabilize shorelines and prevent erosion, and absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, contributing to the global carbon cycle. Additionally, Sargassum also makes an excellent fertilizer because it is high in nutrients.
Looking for a hermit crab snack food? Feed them dried seaweed (a favorite of reef aquarium fish but also loved by most hermit crabs too).
