Monster crab comes to Birmingham

A giant crab saved from an Australian cook pot has arrived at his new home in Birmingham today.

The giant Tasmanian King Crab weighs a hefty 18lbs has been named Russell after the Hollywood actor Russell Crowe because of his 'feisty attitude' and gladiator-style suit of armour.

Russell the giant crab was fished from the deep waters off southern Australia along with two others, all three were saved from the dinner table by a Sea Life scout who struck a deal with the fisherman.

All three of the crabs were flown to the UK at a cost of £3,000 each and delivered to Sea Life's main collections centre in Weymouth, Dorset.

One giant crab was taken to Germany, one went on display in Weymouth in May but until now Russell has been twiddling his giant claws, growing even bigger in size in a behind-the-scenes tank.

Russell's biggest claw is as long as a child's arm and looks powerful enough to cut through steel.

Tasmanian king crabs are the second biggest species in the world and although Russell is huge now, he could double in size to over 30lbs.

The biggest crab in the world is the Japanese king crab which can reach weights of 40lbs.

• Russell’s smaller claw is so strong it is capable of chopping off a human finger.

• Russell’s largest claw is as long as a child’s arm, if he stretched out both claws they would span more than three feet, gigantic especially compared with a UK shore crab’s average of 8cm.

• Unlike a human finger, if Russell lost a claw he could grow one back.

• Many people do not realise that crabs have teeth in their stomachs.

• Tasmanian giant crabs are the second largest crab species in the world, the first is the Japanese spider crab, which can weigh up to 41lbs that is almost 3 stone. Fully grown the spider crab can have a leg span of up to 12ft!