Extremely Rare “Cotton Candy Lobster” Found

A lobster fisherman off the coast of Maine discovered a literal 1 in a 100 million animal when he pulled a Cotton Candy Lobster from the sea. Now before you get excited, no the cotton candy lobster does not taste like cotton candy. In fact, the lobster is so rare that is now living in an aquarium.

Haddie, the rare Cotton Candy Lobster recently caught by one of our Maine lobstermen, has officially been adopted….She’s going to the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, New Hampshire!

What Is A Cotton Candy Lobster?

Cotton Candy lobsters get their radiating blue shell from what scientists believe is a type of albinism

It comes down to a low amount of an antioxidant that affects lobster pigment. Diet could also be a factor.

Via Live Science:

This drastic shift in coloration may stem from the lobster having unusually low astaxanthin levels, due to a diet that’s low in the compound; this could happen if the lobster mostly fed on bait fish, rather than the typical lobster diet of astaxanthin-rich crab and shrimp.

Haddie will have a long healthy life if taken care of. Lobsters can live over 100 years.

Consider the Lobster

But should we eat lobsters?

Besides their taste being questionable (in my opinion) there is an argument that perhaps we should consider eating lobsters due to their possible sentience. T

his line of thinking comes from the late great author and thinker David Foster Wallace. Lobsters and related creatures can form social bonds and even experience anxiety.

Anxiety felt by crayfish, which Fossat studied, is similar to the anxiety felt in humans and other vertebrates, both neurologically and in practice—that is, crayfish seek out “safe” spaces and are less likely to be adventurous if they are feeling anxious.

For those who want to eat lobster, thankfully there are ways to “dispatch” the crustacean humanely.

I eat meat and think it is normal and even preferential for humans to do this. In fact, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that eating meat helped humans evolve into the creatures we are today.

“human brain development could not have existed without a diet based on regular consumption of meat,”

Definitely not advocating for veganism or even vegetarianism. But I think we can all consider how we can consume animals in a more ethical manner.

Other Unusual Animals

Nearly every species of animal experiences some form of albinism or other defects that affect pigmentation. Let’s take a look at the cutest ones.

Albino Giraffes:

Now this cute penguin is not an albino but actually has another defect that causes lighter pigmentation called isabellinism.

Albino Kangaroo – G’Day, Mate!

Isn’t Haddie neat? Share her story with your friends and family.

Hunter Patterson

Hunter Patterson is a writer based in Los Angeles. He loves writing about pop culture, popcorn, and pro wrestling. When he isn't writing, he is working on several creative endeavors. In his free time, he enjoys reading science fiction, perfecting his chili recipe, and exploring Los Angeles' amazing culinary scene.