Meet Cheddar, the One-in-30-million Orange Lobster

There was something obviously very different about one of the lobsters shipped to a Red Lobster restaurant in Hollywood, Florida. Employees at the restaurant immediately noticed the beautiful, bright orange color of the lobster, and they went on a mission to rescue the unique crustacean.

Here at Ripley’s, we take pride in honoring all of the unusual curiosities the world has to offer and when Red Lobster reached out about an orange lobster they had in their possession, Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach answered the call and happily welcomed the extraordinary crustacean to her new home this week!

Orange You Glad to Meet Me?

The Red Lobster and Ripley’s Aquarium teams affectionately named the rare orange lobster Cheddar in a nod to the restaurant’s beloved Cheddar Bay Biscuits®. Cheddar will be forever protected in the safety of her new habitat at Ripley’s Aquarium. Believe It or Not!, orange lobsters like Cheddar are extremely rare — a one-in-30-million chance — because their bright, unusual coloring makes them very attractive to predators.

Hollywood, Florida, Red Lobster manager Mario Roque, who worked to lead the rescue of Cheddar went on to say, “Sometimes ordinary miracles happen, and Cheddar is one of them. A group of incredible people helped us make this possible. We are so honored to have been able to save Cheddar and find her a good home.” 

“We are incredibly proud of Mario and the team for recognizing what a special and rare creature Cheddar is and for working relentlessly to find someone to rescue her,” said Nicole Bott, Senior Director, Communications at Red Lobster. “It is an honor to be able to share the story of Cheddar and provide her a new home where she can be enjoyed by many for years to come, all from the safety of her tank.”  

Claw-some News

Cheddar will live happily ever after at Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach and the timing couldn’t have been better as the Aquarium celebrates a major milestone: 25 years of welcoming guests, making memories, and promoting an awareness of conservation.

Myrtle Beach is also Ripley’s hub for scientific research. The company’s new Marine Science Research Center, where Cheddar is now acclimating, made waves earlier this year by producing the world’s first successful birth by artificial insemination of a sand tiger shark. Now Cheddar, the fabulous orange lobster, is a sight to add to your list when visiting Ripley’s in Myrtle Beach. 

Want to see Cheddar in person? Stop by Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach and see for yourself why Cheddar is truly a one-in-30 million find!