Big Daddy ‘crabs’ a World Record

SEA LIFE Blackpool’s famous Giant Japanese Spider Crab makes a record breaking splash

Big Daddy, a Giant Japanese Spider Crab who arrived at SEA LIFE Blackpool in 2013 has been featured in the special 60th-anniversary edition of the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest marine crustacean.

Big Daddy has an incredible leg span as wide as 3.11 metres, making him the world’s largest crustation in captivity!

The special edition version of the Guinness World Records book is designed to reflect on six decades of record-breaking, whilst also featuring the latest additions to the oddball hall of fame.

Big Daddy has become a firm favourite amongst visitors at SEA LIFE Blackpool who love getting up close to his impressive tank. He was named after the wrestler (real name Shirley Crabtree) who was a regular at The Blackpool Tower wrestling shows for many years.

Jenn Newton, General Manager of SEA LIFE Blackpool said;

“We are absolutely delighted to learn that Big Daddy has broken this World Record!

He is extremely popular here at SEA LIFE Blackpool. Our visitors are literally amazed by his size and love watching him move around in his display.”

The truly giant Spider Crab was destined for a Japanese fish market until a reprieve was negotiated and he was flown to the UK instead.

Found in deep waters off the Japanese island of Honshu, the world’s biggest crabs feed mainly on smaller crustaceans and dead fish, and are reputed to live up to 100 years.

Sadly, numbers of the Japanese Spider Crab continue to diminish as they are caught for food and those still surviving are forced into icy waters – almost 2,000 feet deep – where they are less easily captured.

Big Daddy has continued to grow in his new home, aided by the occasional ‘sushi’ treat devised by Displays Supervisor Scott Blacker as a way of disguising special calcium and vitamin supplements he needs to keep him in tip top condition.

SEA LIFE on Blackpool’s famous Promenade has been welcoming guests for an amazing underwater adventure for over 20 years. From shoreline to the deep sea, visitors learn all about how they can help to protect the amazing species living underwater near and far with over 50 dazzling displays and 2,000 spectacular aquatic creatures.