Aquarium Rescues Blue Lobster from Grocery Store

A rare blue lobster received a new lease on life, thanks to a New York aquarium. It was discovered alongside typical-colored lobsters in a supermarket tank.

Danielle Morales visited Market 32 in Clifton Park with her young sons, Parker, 4, and Zachary, 3. The boys requested to see the lobster tank. "We approached the tank, and Parker exclaimed, 'Hey! That one is blue!'" Morales shared with WRGB-TV. She found this unusual and quickly took a picture of the blue lobster.

Morales then reached out to the Via Aquarium in Schenectady via Facebook. After contacting the aquarium, she informed the store employees. "I went to the counter and said, 'The aquarium is going to call you. You might not want to sell that one,'" said Morales.

Initially, the boys named the lobster Bluey, inspired by a popular cartoon character. However, once they discovered it was male, they renamed him Bandit, referencing the character's equally blue father.

Via Aquarium officials retrieved Bandit from the supermarket. They reported that he is currently in quarantine and will join other lobsters in October.

Rare coloration in lobsters often results from genetic mutations, causing hues like orange, blue, and white. Recently, an orange lobster at the University of New England gave birth to a clutch of eggs, many displaying her rare color.

Cassidy Livingston from Via Aquarium suggested that Bandit’s blue hue may relate to his diet. He has a darker blue shade than other known blue lobsters. "We're thinking it could be diet-related in this case," Livingston noted. "If they consume a lot of shrimp, their color may change."