Birmingham Aquarium First to Get 'Crabzilla'

Discussion in 'The Bucket' started by Matt Rogers, Feb 17, 2010.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2000
    Messages:
    13,466
    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    The National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham just scored a very large arthropod pictured below, the 10 foot (claw to claw) Japanese Spider Crab dubbed 'Crabzilla.' The Japanese Spider Crab, Macrocheira kaempferi, is found in depths up to 2,500 feet deep and can actually grow to be 15 feet across with a 'body the size of a basketball and legs that can straddle a car.'

    [​IMG]
    Credit: Daily Mail UK

    The crab was caught in the Pacific Ocean and is being imported to Britain now. You will find it in the ray tank until the end of March when it will move to its new permanent home in Belgium.

    Source and More Info:
    Biggest crab ever seen in Britain | Mail Online

    --

    Here is some more info on Japanese Spider Crabs from some kids at the Shedd :) :
     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2010
    Matt Rogers, Feb 17, 2010
    Matt Rogers, Feb 17, 2010
    #1

    2. Click Here!

  2. xmetalfan99

    xmetalfan99 Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,691
    Location:
    morgantown, wv
    That think is awesome. I wonder how they acclimated them to survive under a lower PSI than what they are use to at 2500ft below the surface.
     
    xmetalfan99, Feb 17, 2010
    xmetalfan99, Feb 17, 2010
    #2
  3. irr0001

    irr0001 Purple Tang

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2009
    Messages:
    1,822
    Location:
    Auburn, Alabama
    You got me excited..I thought there was an aquarium in Birmingham (AL) I hadn't been to...
     
    irr0001, Feb 17, 2010
    irr0001, Feb 17, 2010
    #3
  4. loneracer05

    loneracer05 Clown Trigger

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2009
    Messages:
    2,019
    Location:
    long island ny
    o man talk about a cool hitchhiker haha
     
    loneracer05, Feb 17, 2010
    loneracer05, Feb 17, 2010
    #4
  5. ZachB

    ZachB Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2008
    Messages:
    3,111
    Location:
    Earth
    Creepy crab
     
    ZachB, Feb 17, 2010
    ZachB, Feb 17, 2010
    #5
  6. doog

    doog Peppermint Shrimp

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2008
    Messages:
    445
    Location:
    Salisbury, MD
    lunch! (and dinner)
     
    doog, Feb 17, 2010
    doog, Feb 17, 2010
    #6

    7. Click Here!

  7. amcarrig

    amcarrig Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2004
    Messages:
    9,219
    Location:
    CT
    The guy holding the crab looks like somebody I used to work with :lol:

    You'd think that the poor things legs would pop off from the weight of them as a result of being held like that out of the water. Seems a bit irresponsible to me for them to do that.

    That being said, HOLY MOTHER OF CRAB! :D
     
    amcarrig, Feb 17, 2010
    amcarrig, Feb 17, 2010
    #7
  8. OnefishTwofish

    OnefishTwofish Feather Star

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2009
    Messages:
    790
    Location:
    Western NY
    i can imagine one of the crews from Deadliest Catch hauling something like that up in the cage.

    haha.....bet the censoring "beep" would be working overtime on that moment lol.
     
    OnefishTwofish, Feb 17, 2010
    OnefishTwofish, Feb 17, 2010
    #8
  9. bje

    bje Long-fin Bannerfish

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2009
    Messages:
    1,628
    Location:
    Illinois
    imagine if that thing came at your face! you'd run for sure...
     
    bje, Feb 17, 2010
    bje, Feb 17, 2010
    #9
  10. Gresham

    Gresham Great Blue Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2002
    Messages:
    2,825
    Location:
    SF/Monterey Bay Area, CA
    To be clear, that is a first maybe in Britian but we have numerous public aquariums in the US with them. I know one of the importers that sells them to the aquariums :D
     
    Gresham, Feb 17, 2010
    Gresham, Feb 17, 2010
    #10
Page 1 of 3