Update January 2026: Long after development appeared to be finalized, Nintendo has unveiled Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0, coinciding with the game’s re-release on the Switch 2! If you’re returning to your island after a hiatus, this guide provides essential insights into Sea Creatures in ACNH.
Understanding Sea Creatures in Animal Crossing: New Horizons In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, sea creatures are a vital addition, much like bugs and fish. Not only can you catch them for crafting and profit, but you can also donate them to Blathers at the museum, where they will be nicely displayed within the aquatic exhibit. Additionally, discovering a scallop might lead you to Pascal, who trades valuable Mermaid DIY recipes. This guide offers a comprehensive examination of sea creatures, detailing their availability, catch methods, and selling prices at Nook’s Cranny. Use the links below to navigate to specific sections:
Sea Creature Price List Finding Sea Creatures How to Swim Identifying Sea Creatures Catching Fast Creatures
Sea Creature Price List There are over 40 distinct sea creatures to discover in ACNH. Many are only available at specific times of day or during particular months. Below is the comprehensive list, including details on pricing and activity periods.
This section includes information about the number of bubbles each creature produces, their respective shadow sizes, and movement speeds to aid in identification. Currently, this table pertains to the northern hemisphere. Those in the southern hemisphere should add six months to the specified activity months for accurate availability.
Sea Creature Bells Active Months Active Times No.of Bubbles Shadow Size Movement Speed
Abalone2000January, June to December4 PM – 9 AMFourMediumMedium Acorn Barnacle600All YearAll DayThreeTinyNo Movement Chambered Nautilus1800March to November4 PM – 9 AMFourMediumSlow Dungeness Crab1900January to May, November, DecemberAll DayFourMediumMedium Firefly Squid1400March to June9 PM – 4 AMThreeTinySlow Flatworm700August to September4 PM – 9 AMThreeTinySlow Gazami Crab2200June to NovemberAll DayFourMediumMedium Giant Isopod12000July to October9 AM – 4 PMFourMediumFast Gigas Giant Clam1500May to SeptemberAll DayManyXLFast Horseshoe Crab2500July to SeptemberAll DayFourMediumFast Lobster4500January, April to June, DecemberAll DayManyLargeFast Mantis Shrimp2500All Year4 PM – 9 AMThreeSmallFast Moon Jellyfish600July to SeptemberAll DayThreeSmallSlow Mussel1500June to DecemberAll DayThreeSmallSlow Octopus1200All YearAll DayFourMediumMedium Oyster2000January to DecemberAll DayThreeSmallMedium Pearl10000All YearAll DayThreeTinyNo Movement Pearl Oyster2800All YearAll DayThreeSmallMedium Red King Crab8000January to March, November, DecemberAll DayManyLargeFast Scallop1200All YearAll DayFourMediumSlow Sea Anemone500All YearAll DayManyLargeNo Movement Sea Cucumber500January to April, November, DecemberAll DayFourMediumSlow Sea Grapes900June to SeptemberAll DayThreeSmallNo Movement Sea Pig8000January, February, November, December4 PM – 9 AMThreeSmallFast Sea Pineapple1500April to AugustAll DayThreeSmallSlow Sea Slug600All YearAll DayThreeTinySlow Sea Star500All YearAll DayThreeSmallSlow Sea Urchin1700May to SeptemberAll DayThreeSmallSlow Seaweed600January to July, October to DecemberAll DayManyLargeNo Movement Slate Pencil Urchin2000May to September4 PM – 9 AMFourMediumMedium Snow Crab6000January to April, November, DecemberAll DayManyLargeFast Spider Crab12000March to AprilAll DayManyXLFast Spiny Lobster5000October to December9 PM – 4 AMManyLargeFast Spotted Garden Eel1100May to October4 AM – 9 PMThreeSmallSlow Sweet Shrimp1400January to December4 PM – 9 AMThreeSmallSlow Tiger Prawn3000June to September4 PM – 9 AMThreeSmallMedium Turban Shell1000March to DecemberAll DayThreeSmallSlow Umbrella Octopus6000March to NovemberAll DayThreeSmallFast Vampire Squid10000May to August4 PM – 9 AMFourMediumFast Venus’ Flower Basket5000January to DecemberAll DayFourMediumFast Whelk1000All YearAll DayThreeSmallSlow
Remember, aside from pearls used primarily as a crafting material, all sea creatures can be donated to Blathers at his museum. They can also be sold at Nook’s Cranny with significant profits. However, without a special buyer like Flick or C. J.for fish or bugs, you can sell sea creatures directly as you gather them. Each scallop can be exchanged with Pascal for exclusive Mermaid recipes or clothing, while pearls are often retrieved from ocean finds or sold for a staggering 10, 000 Bells at Nook’s Cranny.
Where to Find Sea Creatures To locate sea creatures, you must dive into the ocean. They can be found near the shores or further out. Keep in mind, some species may swim away quickly, particularly the rarer ones. Diving is also a means to obtain pearls required for creating Mermaid items, so be sure to collect them when you can!
How to Swim in Animal Crossing: New Horizons To explore underwater for sea creatures, equip a wetsuit, which is available for 3000 Bells at Nook’s Cranny or can be ordered online for 800 Nook Miles. Head to any dock or beachfront, press ‘A’ to jump in, and use ‘A’ repeatedly to swim while pressing ‘Y’ to dive when you see bubbles or shadows. Approach the shadow closely and press ‘A’ to catch the creature.
Identifying Sea Creatures In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you can only identify sea creatures once they’re caught, but a few cues can help in guessing what you’re pursuing. Bubbles indicate their presence, visible even from the shore. The quantity can help estimate size: three bubbles indicate a small creature, four bubbles a medium-sized one, and a constant stream suggests a larger or XL-sized critter. The shadow sizes of sea creatures can be assessed underwater, mirroring the categorization of fish — from tiny to extra large.
Sea creatures only become mobile when approached. Their speeds may vary widely, categorized as slow, medium, and fast. A few may not move at all. The fastest among them demand specific strategies for capture.
How to Catch Fast Sea Creatures Catching some of the game’s fastest sea creatures, such as the giant isopod or vampire squid, can frustrate players due to their speed. These rare specimens often require not just luck but skill. For success, consider cornering these quick creatures. Patience and technique will enable you to consistently catch the elusive fast swimmers. Watch this video for a detailed strategy. When exploring, the ocean is bounded by shark nets, effectively containing the swimming area. Use this to your advantage! Fasties prefer avoiding traps, so position yourself strategically to guide them toward the net. Maintain a parallel swim alongside your target, ensuring it stays between you and the net. The startled creature will change direction, and that’s when you dive in to catch it.
This guide was crafted to enhance your sea creature-catching skills in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, enabling you to maximize your findings and profits in this vibrant oceanic adventure. Happy diving!
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