The other day, I was cleaning a bunch of crabs when Son walked in to help. He picked up one crab and let out a quiet "Hmmm." This was not a "yum" since he does not eat crabs and definitely not a "Ho hum" as in a yawn. It was just a "Hmmm" as if he was pondering some deep question. I looked over at him to see him staring at the crab he was holding. Yep, deep thoughts were milling around that brain so I questioned what he was thinking. Maybe a mistake on my part...I suppose.
"If a barnacle attaches itself for life to some surface and it attaches to a crab, what happens if that crab sheds and becomes a softshell?" We pondered that fact for a bit. Barnacles are steadfast once they cement themselves to a surface and they live up to ten years (or longer). Once cemented in place, they cannot move other than the feathery apparatus that they use to catch food. A crab, on the other hand, eats tons, gets fat and molts. Once that old shell (with barnacle attached) comes off, it falls to the bottom and deteriorates rather quickly. The barnacle is just in a fine fix. If it does not die due to the fact that its backside is now vulnerable, it is at the mercy of the elements. The tide can brutally batter it and wash it ashore. There the barnacle is nigh on cooked by the sun and can be attacked by birds and other critters. Its life would be deemed over, through, kaput. Without some sound surface, the barnacle does not have much of a chance of survival.
Son and I discussed the unwise decision of the barnacle and how its choice of living arrangements led to its early demise. Had that crustacean cemented itself to a pier post it would have still been alive. Latching onto a crab shortened the barnacle's life tremendously. Even if the crab had not been caught and cooked, it would have surely molted and left the barnacle to sink beneath the mud. Either way, life was cut short for the barnacle all because its choice of a homesite.
Mark and I were taking our morning hike when, as usual, we wound up on the pier. The north wind had pushed the water out of the Bay leaving a good stretch of mudflats behind. Even though this is bad for fishing, I still like the looks of the Bay when the tide is extremely low. It allows me to see what is hidden under all of that murky water during higher tides. This morning, I checked out the driftwood pieces that were full of barnacles, tin cans tossed out by non-thinking folks and shells left by the otters. Under the pier were a number of clam shells that had already been raided by the otters. Those critters are adept at opening the shells and making dinner of the fat clams. Using the boat hook, I fished out one unusually large clam shell. This one was still hinged and quite lovely actually. After examining the shell, I decided to photograph it before returning it to the water.
Although the clam shell had been robbed of its original occupant, it was still not empty. A host of Olive Nerites decided to move in and call it home. These snails have a tendency to cling to just about anything that stays in the water for a few minutes. They are the algae eaters of the Bayou! Six nice size snails had formed a community in the vacant shell. I thought of how strange it was that now the snails were "double-shelled". Then another bit of weirdness came to view. Not only were the snails claiming the clam shell but a barnacle was along for the ride. On the back of one of the Nerites, a barnacle had attached itself. Now that was funny! In one empty clam shell we have six Olive Nerites and one barnacle. What a happy home! And what a great repurposing trick!
After photographing the shell game, I carefully returned the whole kit and kaboodle to the water. These guys could remain in their new-found home. Have fun little snails....errr....and little barnacle!
