In his four decades as a lobster fisherman, Robert Wagner encountered a unique discovery: a lobster split down the middle, with one half blue and the other half orange. This remarkable half-and-half lobster, later named Oscar by Wagner, was found in a trap near Blue Rocks on Nova Scotia’s South Shore.
Impressed by the unusual creature, Wagner decided to share Oscar with others and reached out to Dalhousie University for potential interest in taking care of the lobster. Nadia Stewart, representing Dalhousie’s Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to provide a safe environment for Oscar, as lobsters with standout colors often face threats in the wild.
Stewart explained that Oscar’s distinctive appearance, resulting from a rare mutation occurring in approximately one out of 50 million lobsters, is caused by the absorption of genetic information from two fertilized unlaid eggs. The visitor experience facilitator noted that albino lobsters, like Oscar, are even rarer, with a frequency of about one in 100 million lobsters.
After a month of care by Wagner and his family, Oscar was transported to Dalhousie University in Halifax. Accompanied by a special transport license, Oscar has acclimated well to his new surroundings. Recently, Oscar molted, shedding his old shell, surprising the staff. The center decided to display the unique blue-and-orange shell and give Oscar time to recover before putting him back on display once his new shell hardens, a process that typically takes 14 to 30 days.
Oscar’s distinctive coloration, being genetic, will be retained in his new shell. Wagner expressed satisfaction with the decision to donate Oscar, hoping that the lobster will lead a good life in his new home.
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