In the delightfully absurd universe of SpongeBob SquarePants, where pineapples house sponge residents and crabs sell burgers, few theories are as charmingly bizarre as the idea that Patrick Star (SpongeBob’s dim-witted starfish bestie) and Gary the Snail (SpongeBob’s meowing pet) are secret brothers. While this claim has ricocheted around fan forums and meme pages for years, the show’s canon offers no evidence of a genetic link—unless you count shared screen time and a mutual love for jellyfishing.
The “brother” theory likely sprouted from a 2002 episode titled “I’m With Stupid,” where Patrick’s parents visit Bikini Bottom. In one scene, Patrick’s dad refers to his son as a “dumb starfish” and jokes about his lack of siblings. Gary, meanwhile, has no known family beyond SpongeBob, who treats him like a child. Fans, ever creative, connected dots that don’t exist: Patrick and Gary both have pinkish hues! They both live near SpongeBob! They both… uh… enjoy staring at rocks? By this logic, Squidward and a clarinet could be cousins.
Biologically, the idea crumbles faster than a Krabby Patty under pressure. Starfish (Patrick) and snails (Gary) are different species, separated by millions of years of evolution. Patrick hatched from an egg laid by his starfish parents, as shown in “The Patrick Star Show,” while Gary’s origins remain as mysterious as the Krabby Patty secret formula. The closest they come to siblinghood is their shared role as SpongeBob’s loyal—if chaotic—companions.
But why does the myth persist? Blame the power of fan fiction and the human brain’s knack for pattern-seeking. Online communities have spun elaborate backstories: maybe Gary is Patrick’s long-lost brother, mutated by nuclear testing near Bikini Atoll (a real-world reference to the show’s underwater setting). Or perhaps they’re “brothers” in a metaphorical sense, bonded by their shared simplicity. After all, Patrick once tried to eat a snowflake because he thought it was ice cream, and Gary’s primary hobbies include napping and judging SpongeBob’s life choices.
Series creator Stephen Hillenburg, a marine biologist, never hinted at a familial connection. If anything, the show leans into their differences: Patrick is a lovable oaf who thinks breathing is a hobby, while Gary is a sophisticated snail who communicates in purrs and owns a college degree (per the episode “Gary Takes a Bath”). The humor lies in their dynamic—Patrick’s cluelessness vs. Gary’s silent exasperation, a classic odd couple minus the blood ties.
So, are they brothers? Only in the sense that all Bikini Bottom residents are neighbors in a surreal, underwater found family. But let’s be real: if Patrick and Gary were related, their family reunions would involve a lot more bubble-blowing and a lot fewer answers. Until Nickelodeon drops a bombshell DNA test episode, this theory remains firmly in the realm of fan whimsy—right next to “Squidward is a secret agent” and “Plankton actually owns the Krusty Krab.” After all, in a world where a sponge can fry burgers, why not let imagination run wild? Just don’t ask Patrick to explain it. He’s still trying to figure out how mirrors work.
