Extremely Rare Lobster Rescued by Popular Restaurant Chain Staffers Given Most Perfect Name
A rare lobster got out of a pinch thanks to the helpful staff of a Colorado Red Lobster. The lobster, appropriately named Crush, like Orange Crush, is now on his way to live a long and happy life at the Downtown Aquarium. But it wouldn't have happened if staff hadn't noticed just how special Crush was.
Crush first arrived at the Pueblo Red Lobster along with a shipment of live lobsters, but his distinct coloring made him stand out.
Speaking with CBS News, General Manager Kendra Kastendieck explained that most lobsters are dark brown with mottled spots. But not Crush — it was quickly clear that Crush was different.
Related: World’s Rarest Lobster Is Released Back Into the Ocean
"He knew something was very special about it right off the bat," Kastendieck said, speaking of the employee who opened the shipment and found the critter.
The crew at the restaurant quickly took to the lobster, naming him Orange Crush after the Denver Broncos football team, who are known for their Orange Crush defense in the '70s and '80s.
"Myself and many of my team are born and raised Denver Broncos fans so when we were thinking of a name Orange Crush came right to mind," Kastendieck added.
Restaurant guests also noticed Crush's special coloring. Kastendieck told KTLA that, “We actually had several guests see him in the tank in our lobby and asked, ‘Why do we have a cooked lobster in our lobster tank?”
Crush was a special lobster, that's for sure. And not just for staff members at Red Lobster. They did a little bit of research and quickly realized that orange lobsters are incredibly rare. About only one in 30 million lobsters will have an orange hue, the Downtown Aquarium told KTLA.
“The lobster’s coloration is from a genetic mutation which affects and prevents encoded proteins," a rep explained. "The lack of one or several proteins can manifest as different colors, including blue, yellow and orange." CBS News notes that an orange lobster is even rarer than a blue lobster, which are only one in two million.
Crush's orange hue eventually saved him from a dinner plate. The restaurant got in touch with the aquarium and Crush was transferred to his new digs on July 17. The Pueblo Chieftain reports that Crush will have to quarantine for 30 days before he will be moved to the aquarium's "Lurks" exhibit to live amongst other cold water North Atlantic Ocean species. The aquarium added that Crush will be only the second "orange morph" lobster in its history. They said they expect Crush to be out of quarantine and viewable to visitors in August or September.
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