Is that an orange lobster or did the edibles kick in? (Odd News Show/Canva)
Disclaimer: While this article is filled to the gills with facts, we’d be shellfish not to disclose the presence of freshly caught satire.
The popular seafood restaurant chain has taken many a live lobster to its boiling water grave, but in a karmic twist of fate, it has spared the life of one very special shellfish, a rare orange lobster.
When Jose Romero, a dishwasher/hero at a Red Lobster in Pueblo, Colorado, was unpacking a shipment an unusually colored crustacean caught his attention. He thought maybe his eyes were playing tricks on him, but he soon discovered orange lobsters are indeed real, they’re just extremely rare. Like a four-leaf clover or finding your soulmate on Tinder.
According to reports the chances of finding an orange lobster are one in 30 million. Wow!
So what gives these rare sea creatures their unique coloring? The orange hue is surprisingly not from a discount spray tan; but a genetic mutation that affects the encoded proteins that determine shell color. These proteins, or lack thereof, can create a rainbow of lobsters including blue, yellow, and orange.
This is how red lobsters end up. (Red Lobster/Instagram)
Instead of serving up this genetic gem with a basket of Cheddar Bay Biscuits, Red Lobster staff contacted the local aquarium to rehome the crustacean, whom they lovingly named “Crush.”
Orange Crush now resides at Denver’s Downtown Aquarium and is reportedly thriving. Despite the newfound fame and glory, Crush remains humble.
“Every night I press my claws together and thank Poseidon that I was spared from becoming some struggling couples’ anniversary meal at a mid-range seafood chain restaurant.”
– Crush
This is not the first time Red Lobster workers have rehomed a uniquely colorful lobster. In 2020, a blue lobster named Clawdia the Crustacean was discovered and sent to a zoo in Akron, Ohio. (We’re not saying this is what started the pandemic, but we’re not not saying it. Know what I mean?)
Queen Clawdia is nobody's dinner, honey. (Awing0/Wikimedia Commons)
These lucky lobsters dodged the pot and are now living the dream thanks to their unique look and a hand from some vigilant, and thankfully non-colorblind, employees.
The inspirational true story of Crush the Orange Lobster has a message we can all learn from. Sometimes being a little bit different can save your tail… Literally.
