ACNH Sea Creatures Guide: When & How to Catch All 40 sea creatures
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) offers players a richly detailed world where collecting every creature for the museum is one of the most rewarding long-term challenges. Among the three main collectible categories—fish, bugs, and sea creatures—the underwater world presents a unique set of challenges. Accessible only through the swimming and diving mechanics introduced in the July 2020 update, sea creatures require players to don a wetsuit and venture into the ocean to hunt for bubbling shadows beneath the waves.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of all 40 sea creatures in ACNH, their seasonal availability, time-based spawns, selling prices, and expert catching strategies.
1. How Swimming and Diving Work
Before diving into specifics, understanding the fundamental mechanics is essential. Sea creatures are distinct from fish—C.J., the fishing tournament host, has no involvement with them, and they cannot be caught with a fishing rod. Instead, players must purchase a wetsuit from Nook's Cranny, Nook Shopping, or via Nook Miles redemption, then approach the ocean and press A to enter the water.
Once swimming, players must look for rising bubbles on the water's surface—these indicate a sea creature's location below. Swimming directly over the bubbles and pressing Y triggers a dive, revealing a creature shadow underwater. Swimming into the shadow completes the capture. It is worth noting that snorkels and other accessories have no effect on swimming speed or dive duration, so they are purely cosmetic.
2. Complete Sea Creature Count: 40 Species in Total
There are exactly 40 sea creatures available to catch in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This total represents a significant expansion from previous entries in the series—Animal Crossing: New Leaf featured 30 sea creatures, and New Horizons added 13 new species while removing three others. These 40 species are spread across all 12 months of the year, with availability patterns varying by hemisphere.
3. Seasonal Breakdown: Northern Hemisphere Focus
The following breakdown focuses on the Northern Hemisphere. Southern Hemisphere players should shift all months by six months.
Spring (March–May)
Spring marks the arrival of several notable species. The Spider Crab is a standout catch exclusive to March and April, selling for 12,000 Bells and presenting a rare opportunity for dedicated collectors. The Umbrella Octopus appears from March through May and again from September through November, priced at 6,000 Bells. The Sea Pineapple—available from April through August—is a less valuable but important Critterpedia addition. For players seeking the Firefly Squid, it can only be caught during Spring months (March through June) between 9 PM and 4 AM, with a modest sell price of 1,400 Bells.
Summer (June–August)
Summer represents the peak season for sea creature collecting—more unique species become available during these three months than any other period. The Gigas Giant Clam, the single most valuable sea creature in the game at 15,000 Bells, appears from May through September and casts a massive, easily identifiable shadow. The Moon Jellyfish appears only in July through September, selling for 600 Bells. The Tiger Prawn arrives from June to September between 4 PM and 9 AM, priced at 3,000 Bells. The Giant Isopod, a super rare sea creature worth 12,000 Bells, appears from July through October with a complex spawn schedule that splits across multiple time windows. The Vampire Squid, also selling for 10,000 Bells, appears from May through August between 4 PM and 9 AM, making summer evenings prime hunting hours. Summer also brings Sea Grapes from June through September, Sea Urchin from May through September, and Slate Pencil Urchin during the same period but restricted to nighttime hours.
Autumn (September–November)
As summer transitions into autumn, the sea creature roster shifts toward cold-water species. The Horseshoe Crab appears from July through September, but only between 9 PM and 4 AM, selling for 2,500 Bells. The Spiny Lobster becomes available from October through December, exclusively between 9 PM and 4 AM, priced at 5,000 Bells. Autumn sees the departure of summer-heavy species like the Gigas Giant Clam and Moon Jellyfish while welcoming the return of some cool-weather options such as the Sweet Shrimp, available from September through February between 4 PM and 9 AM. The Chambered Nautilus makes its appearance from March through June and again from September through November, restricted to 4 PM to 9 AM.
Winter (December–February)
Winter is the season for high-value cold-water creatures. The Sea Pig—worth 10,000 Bells—appears from November through February but only between 4 PM and 9 AM. The Red King Crab sells for 8,000 Bells and appears from November through March at any time of day, making it more accessible than many other valuable winter species. The Snow Crab, worth 6,000 Bells, appears from November through April. Winter also features the Dungeness Crab from November through May at 1,900 Bells, and the Venus' Flower Basket from October through February， selling for 5,000 Bells. Players should note that December brings a major turnover: Sea Cucumber, Sea Pig, Dungeness Crab, Red King Crab, and Snow Crab all become available in November, while the Chambered Nautilus, Umbrella Octopus, and Gazami Crab depart until next year.
4. Year-Round Sea Creatures
Several sea creatures are not subject to seasonal restrictions—they appear every month of the year regardless of hemisphere. These reliable catches are excellent starting points for beginners filling their Critterpedia:
- Sea Star (500 Bells) | All year, all day, small very slow shadow
- Sea Anemone (500 Bells) | All year, all day, large stationary shadow
- Sea Slug (600 Bells) | All year, all day, tiny very slow shadow
- Octopus (1,200 Bells) | All year, all day
- Whelk (1,000 Bells) | All year, all day
- Pearl Oyster (2,800 Bells) | All year, all day
- Acorn Barnacle (600 Bells) | All year, all day
- Mantis Shrimp (2,500 Bells) | All year, 4 PM to 9 AM
5. Most Valuable Sea Creatures
For players primarily interested in earning Bells through diving, the following table lists the highest-value sea creatures available:
| Creature | Sell Price | Time Window | Months (Northern Hemisphere) |
| Gigas Giant Clam | 15,000 Bells | All day | May–September |
| Giant Isopod | 12,000 Bells | 9 AM–4 PM & 9 PM–4 AM | July–October |
| Spider Crab | 12,000 Bells | All day | March–April |
| Vampire Squid | 10,000 Bells | 4 PM–9 AM | May–August |
| Sea Pig | 10,000 Bells | 4 PM–9 AM | November–February |
| Red King Crab | 8,000 Bells | All day | November–March |
| Snow Crab | 6,000 Bells | All day | November–April |
| Umbrella Octopus | 6,000 Bells | All day | March–May September–November |
| Venus' Flower Basket | 5,000 Bells | 4 PM–9 AM | October–February |
| Spiny Lobster | 5,000 Bells | 9 PM–4 AM | October–December |
The Gigas Giant Clam commands the highest price at 15,000 Bells and is widely regarded as both the rarest and most valuable sea creature in the game. However, its high value comes with a significant challenge—it is also one of the fastest-moving sea creatures, requiring strategic approach techniques to catch.
6. When is the best time of the day to catch sea creatures?
Understanding time windows is arguably more important than understanding seasonal windows for efficient sea creature hunting. Unlike bugs and fish, which have relatively simple time restrictions, sea creatures utilize a combination of time windows that overlap across the 24-hour cycle.
Nighttime-Exclusive Creatures (Highest Value)
The majority of high-value sea creatures appear exclusively at night or during evening hours. The Spiny Lobster appears only between 9 PM and 4 AM. The Horseshoe Crab shares the same 9 PM to 4 AM window. The Firefly Squid also requires darkness, appearing from 9 PM to 4 AM during its seasonal window. The Vampire Squid, Sea Pig, Mantis Shrimp, Sweet Shrimp, Abalone, Slate Pencil Urchin, and Venus' Flower Basket all share the 4 PM to 9 AM window, effectively covering evening and overnight hours.
Daytime Windows
The Giant Isopod has a particularly unusual availability schedule—it can be caught from 9 AM to 4 PM and again from 9 PM to 4 AM, but not during the overlapping hours between 4 PM and 9 PM. The Spotted Garden Eel is a rare daytime creature, available from 4 AM to 9 PM, providing a daytime option for players who prefer daylight hunting.
The Golden Hour: 9 PM
According to the most widely cited player wisdom, 9 PM is the single best time to go deep-sea diving in Animal Crossing, as every single sea creature in the game is available at this hour, giving players the highest possible chance of encountering rare species.
7. Shadow Sizes and Movement Patterns: Reading the Water
Each sea creature casts a shadow of a specific size and exhibits distinct movement behaviors, allowing skilled divers to identify their target before diving. Recognizing these patterns dramatically improves hunting efficiency.
Stationary shadows belong to the easiest-to-catch creatures. Seaweed (Large shadow) and Sea Anemone (Large shadow) remain completely still, making them effortless captures. Sea Grapes (Small shadow) also does not move.
Very slow shadows include Sea Cucumber (Medium shadow), Sea Star (Small shadow), Sea Slug (Tiny shadow), and Pearl Oyster. These creatures move slowly enough that players can chase them down even without specialized approach tactics.
Fast and very fast shadows require careful strategy. The Giant Isopod has an Extra Fast shadow, while the Gigas Giant Clam moves extremely quickly, making it one of the most challenging catches in the entire game. The Sea Pig has a Very Fast shadow movement rating, adding to its challenge despite its high value.
8. Expert Catching Techniques for Fast Sea Creatures
The most common frustration among players is failing to catch fast-moving creatures like the Giant Isopod and Gigas Giant Clam. The key insight is counterintuitive: do not swim fast toward the bubbles.
There are three distinct swimming speeds in ACNH. The fastest speed—achieved by repeatedly tapping A while moving the left analog stick—is effective for covering large distances but will cause fast creatures to flee upon sensing the player's approach. The moderate speed—holding A while moving—is slower but still can alert skittish prey. The slowest speed—using only the left analog stick without pressing any A button—is the correct approach for high-value targets.
The recommended technique follows these steps: First, locate the bubble trail indicating a sea creature. Second, approach horizontally using only the left analog stick—the slow, silent swim speed will not trigger the creature's flee response. Third, swim until the bubbles are directly beneath the player character. Fourth, dive by pressing Y. If executed correctly, the creature will not have enough warning to escape, allowing a clean capture even of the fastest species.
For creatures that do begin fleeing, advanced players can employ a corralling strategy: chase the creature toward the map's perimeter net, then dive at the last moment when the creature is trapped against the boundary. Another effective method involves identifying the creature's direction of travel and swimming to cut it off, diving at the meeting point rather than pursuing from behind.
9. Pascal and Scallops: The Mermaid Connection
One unique interaction exists within the sea creature system: Pascal, a red sea otter who appears randomly when the player catches a Scallop. When Pascal surfaces, he will offer to trade mermaid-themed DIY recipes or pearls for the Scallop. Pascal can appear multiple times per day, though not every Scallop triggers his appearance. Players seeking to complete the full mermaid furniture set should prioritize catching Scallops consistently—they are available year-round at any time of day, priced at 1,200 Bells.
10. Museum Completion
Completing the sea creature section of the museum—one donation of each of the 40 species—is a substantial undertaking that rewards careful monthly planning. The most strategic approach is to create a checklist and monitor which species leave at the end of each month.
In October, for instance, Northern Hemisphere players must prioritize catching the Giant Isopod, Spotted Garden Eel, and remaining summer species before they vanish for the year. Similarly, May brings the departure of winter-only creatures, making April the last chance to catch Snow Crab and Red King Crab until November.
A practical seasonal rotation for dedicated collectors:
- Spring (March–May): Focus on Spider Crab (March–April only), Umbrella Octopus, and Firefly Squid.
- Summer (June–August): Maximum variety—prioritize Gigas Giant Clam, Giant Isopod, Vampire Squid, and the various sea urchins.
- Autumn (September–November): Shift toward Horseshoe Crab and Spiny Lobster before winter arrives.
- Winter (December–February): Target Sea Pig, Red King Crab, and Snow Crab for high Bells, plus Venus' Flower Basket for rare collection.
By following this guide and mastering the slow-approach catching technique, players can efficiently complete their Critterpedia, donate every sea creature to Blathers, and earn substantial Bells along the way. The best advice is simple: dive at 9 PM, swim slowly, and always keep a wetsuit equipped when walking along the shore—you never know when bubbles might appear.
FAQ
When is the best time to catch sea creatures in ACNH?
9 PM is the best time, as all sea creatures can spawn during this hour.
How many sea creatures are in ACNH?
There are 40 sea creatures in total.
What is the rarest sea creature in ACNH?
The Gigas Giant Clam and Giant Isopod are considered the rarest due to spawn difficulty.
Do sea creatures spawn all year?
Some do, but many are seasonal and depend on month and time.
