I know how it looks.
There’s no way a crab could ever give birth to a whale, right?
Or does Bikini Bottom simply disregard all forms of logic?
Well, the story actually goes much deeper than you think.
And the Krabs family history might even make you shed a tear.
Continue reading to discover:
- A surprising connection in the Krabs’ bloodline.
- How a teenage sperm whale became part of a sea crab family.
- 1 mysterious reason why Mr. Krabs cares so much about Pearl.
- And so many more…
Is Pearl Mr. Krabs’ daughter?
Pearl is Mr. Krabs’ daughter. According to a trivia book by David Fain in 2000, she is the biological offspring of Mr. and Mrs. Krabs. It also highlights that Pearl simply resembles her whale mother much more than her dad.
An unlikely family
I won’t deny that the Krabs household is different.
In fact, back in season 6, in the Slumber Party episode…
It’s pretty weird seeing a teenage whale being bossed around by her small crab father.
And in a world where table sponges live in pineapples…
That goes to show how wacky their family tree looks.
But as hard as it is to believe that a crab could give birth to Pearl…
A trivia book by David Fain in 2000 confirms that Mr. Krabs did get hitched to a whale.
And because of their love…
It’s how we got to see this unlikely family of Bikini Bottom today.
So, where’s Mrs. Krabs?
I’d like to think she’s off somewhere spending Eugene’s savings.
But, sadly, there’s not much we know about her.
Her appearance remains one of SpongeBob Squarepants’ greatest mysteries.
In fact, her name is only ever mentioned a few times throughout the series.
Like back in season 1, the Hooky episode.
Mr. Krabs exclaims:
“Mother of Pearl! Fire on the poop deck!”
Then again, that’s about the extent of most fans’ knowledge on the topic.
And because Pearl takes after her mother…
We can only guess that she looks like a more mature version of her daughter.
Potentially around her late 70s…
Since Mr. Krabs was born in 1942 (unless he married someone a lot younger).
Reading Recommendation: Who Is Mr. Krabs’ Wife? What Happened To Her?
Well, how does Pearl feel?
My heart goes out to all the kids who learn to grow up quickly.
And despite being among the largest whales…
I’m sure Pearl still needs the love of a mother.
In fact, a study shows that parental absence is bad for children’s development.
The data reveals that these kids get significantly lower cognitive test scores.
And are far less likely to attend college in the future.
Luckily, in Pearl’s case, it seems like there’s no need to worry.
For example, in season 7, the Growth Spout episode.
She goes through so much pain and demands more food.
So what does Mr. Krabs do to help?
He scavenges the entirety of Bikini Bottom just to make her feel better.
Which proves how far he’s willing to go for his daughter.
Plus, their personalities play off each other so well.
Pearl’s the daughter that doesn’t mind splurging money now and then.
And Mr. Krabs is the super cheapskate father trying to keep his wallet out of reach.
A cute and very realistic family dynamic.
How is Pearl Mr. Krabs’ daughter?
Pearl is Mr. Krabs’ daughter because he was once married to Mrs. Krabs and had a family. Their marriage leads to the birth of the sperm whale who takes after her mother. There is no further information behind the family’s backstory. And the original creator preferred to keep things a secret.
More than just a whale
It’s pretty sad that we don’t see any of Mr. Krabs’ genes rub off on Pearl.
And despite how weird it could look…
It actually makes sense in the world of Bikini Bottom.
For example, back in season 4, the SquidBob Tentacle Pants episode.
We see Squidward and SpongeBob morphed into a crazy combination.
So if the same principle applies…
Pearl deserves some kind of hard shell or claws too.
Of course, it would go against a proper cartoon depiction of a whale.
But I say it’s well worth an episode just for laughs.
However, for those still on the fence…
One question keeps flashing in bright colors:
Is adoption possible?
In theory, that would explain the lack of crab-like features.
Plus, it’s not like Pearl is the last of her species.
For example, in season 9, the Jailbreak! episode…
We see a whale cellmate that looks suspiciously similar to Pearl.
What’s more, in season 10, the Out of the Picture episode…
A fancier one in a purple shirt even buys a Krabby Patty.
As a result, it’s not impossible for Mr. Krabs to adopt Pearl.
And if it were anything like the real word…
He might be getting funds from the Bikini Bottom government to support her.
Bonus: Not the first one in the family
You might be scratching your head trying to figure out who I’m talking about.
And if I didn’t watch the episode recently…
I promise you that I would be doing the same thing.
But Pearl Krabs isn’t the first of the crimson crab bloodline to be part whale.
That throne goes to Redbeard Krabs.
Which is Pearl’s great-grandfather.
We learn about his whale DNA in season 4’s Dunces and Dragons episode.
Now, much like Pearl, Redbeard Krabs doesn’t have any obvious features to prove he is a whale.
As a result, it might just be related to their genetic lottery.
It’s either you look like a crab or a towering marine mammal.
Nothing in between.
Plus, if you’re interested in learning more about the Krabs family…
Here’s a must-watch video to see all the distant relatives:
About the “Mr. Krabs adopted Pearl episode”
SpongeBob Squarepants never aired an episode about Mr. Krabs adopting Pearl. Instead, this is a famous three-panel storyline by Gafcomics. It shows the red sea crab finding a dead whale by chance. He then decides to adopt and take care of the baby sperm whale cradled beside the dead body.
Does Mr. Krabs care about Pearl?
The red scavenger crab still looks after and takes responsibility for his daughter.
However, I can’t deny that the crimson sea crab isn’t trustworthy.
The only thing he’s ever loved is money.
For instance, back in season 5, the Krabbyland episode.
He cheerfully explains to SpongeBob:
“The children? I don’t care about the children! I just care about their parents’ money.”
Worse, that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
And he can be a lot cheaper when given the opportunity to save face or earn more money from it.
As a result, it’s no surprise why people doubt his parenting abilities.
Let alone if he actually cares about his daughter, Pearl.
However, even the greedy business owner can be loving.
So it’s best to put our best foot forward first:
Pearl is priceless
On a more positive note, there’s a reason to believe Eugene Krabs does care.
If you can recall the Friend or Foe episode from season 5…
The greedy sea crab wasn’t always swimming in money.
In fact, his life was quite the opposite.
So much so that his classmates belittled him for being poor.
As a result, taking care of Pearl and saving money might be his way of showing care.
Mr. Krabs just doesn’t want his daughter to go through the same troubles.
For instance, in season 4, the Whale of a Birthday episode.
He asks SpongeBob to learn all the different things Pearl loves.
And what does he do with the information?
Mr. Krabs foots the bill and buys everything his daughter wants from the mall.
Plus, he even books a private performance of her favorite boy band, Boys Who Cry.
Sure, I will admit that it’s weird.
You don’t typically see that amount of spending unless you’re someone’s sugar daddy.
Which is a creepy fan theory about Mr. Krabs having a teenage whale girlfriend.
But research shows that family relationships become more complicated as they grow up.
And perhaps this is how Pearl and her father have changed.
It’s how their family depends on each other (albeit in a very expensive relationship).
Bonus: He feels guilty
Mr. Krabs isn’t the type of guy to feel regret.
When life dealt him a bad hand, he worked hard.
He even lived as a pirate under Grandpappy Krabs.
In fact, the only time I can remember him rethinking his decisions is when money’s involved.
Like trying to get back SpongeBob because he’s losing customers.
However, if we go back to season 4, in the Shell of A Man episode…
There are hints that Mr. Krabs killed Pearl’s mother while serving in the navy during the war.
For instance, the two pictures in his house of a ship fighting a whale.
Not to mention the harpoons hanging on the walls too.
And if this theory turns out to be the truth…
Mr. Krabs may have adopted Pearl and cared for her until the present day out of guilt.
A study shows that feelings of regret can encourage prosocial behavior.
So people are more inclined to do good when they feel responsible for everything bad that’s happened.
As a result, all the money he’s spending on Pearl might be a reaction.
It’s his only way of atoning for his sins…
Because he can’t tell her the truth about what happened to Mrs. Krabs.