The Life Cycle of Abalone Abalone breed through broadcast spawning. In culture, spawning is controlled by the water temperature - and by light. The egg hatches as a microscopic freeliving larva, which drifts with the currents for about a week. It then settles to the bottom, sheds the swimming hairs and begins to develop the adult shell form. If a suitable habitat is located, it will grow to juvenile- and adulthood.
Abalone are nocturnal - active at night.
In nature, they contend with a variety of predators throughout their lives. Eggs and larvae are consumed by filter feeding animals. Juveniles are preyed upon by crabs, lobsters, predatory snails, starfish, octopuses and fish. Adults are removed by large fish, seals, sea otters and the most effective of all predators - man. Select diagram for a full size view.