Only this time, the resident is not a Hollywood star with a mansion in Marbella’s exclusive La Zagaleta neighbourhood or a wannabe A-lister with a 2-bed apartment in Marbella’s Elviria district. The latest star to take up residence at the Costa del Sol has opted for a spacious one-bed aquarium space in Benalmádena, where “Crusty”, the world’s biggest crab, will live at the SeaLife Centre from now on.
When one’s legs measure one and a half metres, and one is used to the spacious surroundings of the Pacific Ocean, one is permitted to be as fussy about one’s new abode as a Russian oligarch or a Saudi oil millionaire. One expects simply the best! The world’s biggest crab can look forward to settling into an environment that will be as close to the one it left behind in the Pacific, with water temperatures set to a crustacean-pleasing seven to ten degrees Celsius in an aquarium offering fabulous views of Malaga Province’s much-loved tourist attraction.
Who could possibly be “crabby” at the Costa del Sol?
“Crusty” is an aquatic spider variety and used to living in deep waters near Japan. Its home was endangered by overfishing, which is why it had to be moved to a safer environment. Heavily camouflaged by its natural colouring, the crab feeds itself by trawling the seabed in search of prey, which from now on will no longer be sushi-flavoured, leaning more towards the sardine spectrum in terms of taste.
Weighing an impressive 20 kilograms (40 pounds), the crab spans nearly four metres and can live up to 40 years in the wild. Imagine that coming towards you during a snorkelling adventure along Marbella’s Golden Mile beaches!
Its stay in Andalucía is indefinite, allowing those with a holiday home at the Costa del Sol plenty of time to see the spider crab on their next visit.
Other denizens of the world’s oceans who have taken up a luxury residence at the SeaLife Centre are various species of sharks, octopi, rays, seahorses, eels, jelly fish and starfish. Young thrill seekers should visit the Centre with their parents on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, when the sharks “go out to dinner” and feeding demonstrations take place.
Located in Puerto Marina in Benalmádena, a short drive from Marbella, SeaLife Centre also runs a rescue and re-homing station for seals and other marine animals such as otters and sea turtles. The Centre operates a successful seahorse breeding programme as part of international conservation efforts to help this delightful, but sadly endangered species.
The Centre offers wonderful “behind the scenes” tours that show visitors all the different types of work Centre staff get involved with, and includes a visit to the rock pool, where one comes into touching distance with creatures not quite so sharp-toothed, such as starfish and snails.