If there were lobsters in The Smurfs, they would look like the rare and yet popular blue lobster. As you are about to find out, having a blue color is hardly an advantage for these creatures out in the wild.

Lobsters rarely make the news, but this unique lobster regularly does.

As you can imagine, considering how rare these creatures really are, they don't come cheap. Surprisingly, they are also not usually eaten after they have been caught.

Believe it or not, a blue lobster can sell for $500. That should hardly be surprising considering that these lobsters are so incredible to look at.

Granted, there are plenty of strangely colored creatures under the sea, but the blue-colored lobster is still in a league of its own.

A unique thing about this creature is that you have one in two million chances of crossing paths with one. Fortunately, you can find them at zoos, where they tend to get a lot of attention from visitors.

As you probably already know, lobsters have a murky brown color. A few also have a dark green color, while some have a navy blue color.

In rare cases, these crustaceans can have a yellow, pink, or bright blue color.

You would think that most fishermen would feel like they have hit the jackpot after catching these rare lobsters. However, since their numbers are so low, they are often forced to throw them back in the water.

In fact, when a Red Lobster in Ohio found out they had a blue lobster, they sent it to a zoo instead of serving it to its guests as dinner. The locals were happy with the decision.

The blue lobster is so rare that when the restaurant discovered the sea creature, they initially thought it was a joke. Although the hotel manager said it was captivating to look at it, he also admitted that "it looked like it was fake."

After the lobster was given to the Akron Zoo in Ohio, it was named Clawdia, after the restaurant's mascot, Clawdeen.

Where Do They Get Their Blue Color?

Without a doubt, blue lobsters are a visual marvel, but it's not clear where they get their blue color.

However, while the blue color might make it seem like this is an entirely different species of lobster, the blue lobster is just like regular American or European lobsters, except for the color, of course. American lobsters have a dark brown color, and some are green or light orange.

European lobsters, on the other hand, have a dark navy blue or purplish color.

Scientists found out that the blue color results from a genetic abnormality that results in the lobsters overproducing a certain protein.

Blue lobsters are likely to be found on the Atlantic coasts of North America and Europe, and Australia.

The Genetic Anomaly Can Cause Other Colors As Well

Apparently, the genetic abnormality that makes these creatures have a blue color can also cause other colorations on these creatures as well.

As it turns out, yellow lobsters are even rarer. Experts estimate that you have one in 30 million chances of catching a yellow lobster.

It's even harder to catch a two-toned lobster. The odds rise to a staggering 1 in 50 million.

Still, that's nothing compared to the possibility of catching an albino lobster, also known as a "crystal" lobster. The last record of this ever happening was in 2011 and 2017.

There are 1 in 100 million chances of catching an albino lobster. That means that this lobster is 50 times harder to catch than a blue lobster, making it look pretty common.

In What Other Ways Are Blue Lobsters Different?

In addition to having a very different color, blue lobsters also behave differently compared to regular lobsters. For instance, they tend to be more aggressive.

The bright color is also a downside in that it is more noticeable by predators. The blue color makes it harder for these crustaceans to blend, which means they stick out more prominently in the ocean.

Maybe they use their aggressiveness to make up for this shortcoming.

Apparently, blue lobsters also have poor eyesight, but they seem to make up for this with a stronger sense of smell and taste.

Otherwise, they are very similar to regular lobsters in that they feed on fish, sea algae, and mollusks.

Some people argue that blue lobsters are tastier than regular lobsters.

Are Blue Lobsters More Valuable?

Because blue lobsters are rarer, they are considered more valuable than regular lobsters.

A pound of this lobster can sell for $60 at a steakhouse, and that's partly because some people think blue lobsters are sweeter than other types of lobsters.

However, nobody would tell you you are eating a blue lobster at the dinner table and not a regular lobster. Due to heat, the protein that gives them their blue hue breaks down and makes them look red like other kinds of lobsters.

Strangely, in Victorian Europe, lobster was considered peasant food, and they were used as fertilizer. There was even a time they were fed to prisoners as that was considered cruel.

Why Preserving Blue Lobsters Is So Important

Although blue lobsters can earn restaurant owners a lot of money, it is not worth eating them.

Since these creatures are so rare, it is much better to preserve them. That is why fishermen and restaurants are usually forced to donate them to aquariums.

Clearly, lobsters seem to come in all rainbow colors, which is quite intriguing considering how common a few of their colors are. That said, the blue lobster is quite vibrant to watch.