Sydney Aquarium Gives a Home to Luckiest Crayfish

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: August 25, 2021 12:45 pm

Pinchy the lucky crayfish while he was recovering at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Photo Credit: SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Pinchy may just be the luckiest crayfish on Earth. He was saved recently by the team at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium after being found by a couple on their rubbish collection rounds. The crayfish had been left in a Styrofoam box in a dumpster in Pyrmont.

Now Pinchy will live out the rest of his day’s in a freshwater tank at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium where aquarists will cater to his every need.

Couple Matt and Donna found Pinchy during their routine rubbish collection rounds one morning. While sorting Styrofoam boxes they looked inside one and saw what they thought was a dead crayfish but soon it began to make small movements.

They called the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Animal Rescue Center who were able to provide care to the crayfish.

Pinchy the lucky crayfish in his new home at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Photo Credit: SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Donna, who joined her partner on his morning waste removal rounds, commented, “It was a pretty uneventful morning until we got to Pyrmont. Matt was separating Styrofoam boxes and spotted something different about one of them, then we realised there was a creature inside. We thought it was a dead crayfish but then it started to slowly move and realised it was alive!”

“We searched online for some advice and came across the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Animal Rescue Centre, we called them and to our relief, they offered to take the crayfish into their care.”

“We hoped he’d survive, but we were ecstatic when we heard that not only had he made a full recovery, but now he was going to become a resident at the aquarium. We can’t think of a better home for the world’s luckiest crayfish!” finished Donna.

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Daniel Sokolnikoff, Displays Supervisor at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, said, “Pinchy is one very lucky crayfish! We received a very surprising call, advising us that a crayfish has been abandoned in Pyrmont. After confirming that our permits allowed us to attend to this species, discovered under these circumstances, it was the best chance at life for Pinchy and we took him into our care.”

“After his mandatory 14-day self-isolation stint in SEA LIFE Sydney’s quarantine area, and some tender loving care, we’re pleased to share that Pinchy passed his health assessment and his story has a happy ending. Pinchy now lives in one of the freshwater exhibits at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, alongside his new tankmates who include six lungfish, archerfish, spotted gars and snakehead turtles.”

Daniel added, “I’m really pleased that Matt and Donna contacted us, especially after they told us that someone suggested throwing Pinchy in the ocean! This type of cray is called a marron and is a freshwater species, it wouldn’t have survived in the ocean.”

Pinchy in the box he was rescued in by SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium from a dumpster near a Sydney resturant

Photo Credit: SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium were happy to help in this case but would like to urge members of the public only to call the Animal Rescue Centre when a wild marine animal is sick, injured, or in danger.

As part of lockdown measures in Sydney to prevent the spread of Covid-19 the aquarium is currently closed so Pinchy will have to wait a bit longer to meet his fans.

Learn more about SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium on their website – SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium