Howie the rainbow crab knows sign language, how to walk on a leash and give a great high-five.
Omaha owner Laura Porter really gets upset when Howie looks longingly at her from her aquarium. And, apparently, to the millions of viewers that follow her every move on social media.
Five million people watched Porter’s first post, in which she cleaned Howie’s shell with a toothbrush. Considering she had only four friends on TikTok at the time, Porter was astonished.
The stay-at-home mom now has 600,000 followers between Instagram and TikTok. One million or more people have seen at least some of her posts. Editing them is pretty much her full-time job.
A peculiar crustacean wearing tiny hats and posing with fancy foods recently exploded in popularity online. Known simply as “Howie the Crab” this claw-wielding sensation has amassed over 800000 followers across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. But what exactly is the story behind the fedora-flaunting, caviar-eating phenom?
An Overnight Sensation
In April 2022 Howie first appeared on TikTok in a video that quickly went viral. The clip shows Howie perched on a countertop wearing a mini top hat and facing a platter of ornate hors d’oeuvres. Text overlay reads “POV You’re on a date with Howie the Crab.”
Soon, Howie’s caretaker began posting more videos showcasing the quirky crustacean living a lavish lifestyle. Howie can be seen sporting various handmade hats while posing with champagne, lobster dinners, and even wads of “cash.” The account @howiethecrab currently has over 779,000 TikTok followers and growing.
Meet the Owner
The mastermind behind Howie is Jess Davis, a preschool teacher and hobbyist crab-keeper in Washington state. She found Howie at a local aquatics store and was charmed by his unique personality.
Jess runs Howie’s various social media accounts and creates all his tiny costumes herself. She also built elaborate custom enclosures so he can live like a king. According to Jess, Howie “loves wearing hats” and is always down to take photos showing off his latest headpiece.
What Kind of Crab is Howie?
So what is the specific species of this fancy crustacean taking the internet by storm? Howie is a Hawaiian red crab, scientific name Grapsus tenuicrustatus.
Native to the Hawaiian Islands and surrounding waters, these crabs are typically brownish-red in color with black banding on their claws. They grow to an average size of 2-3 inches wide, making Howie on the smaller side at just 1.5 inches across.
Also called rock crabs or shore crabs, Hawaiian red crabs thrive in the intertidal zone. They are adept climbers and can scale rocks, coral, mangroves, and other coastal terrain.
Caring for a Hawaiian Red Crab
For those hoping to adopt their own hat-loving crustacean, Hawaiian red crabs require specialized care. Here are some key facts about the species:
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Habitat – Rocks, caves, driftwood, and ample climbing areas. Sand substrate.
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Temperature – 74-84°F. Avoid drastic fluctuations.
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Humidity – High humidity around 75-85%.
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Diet – Omnivores that eat fish, plants, algae, mollusks and more. Calcium-rich foods are vital.
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Lifespan – Generally 3-4 years in captivity.
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Handling – Gentle handling once accustomed, but prefer to be alone.
The Life of a Celebricrab
While most Hawaiian red crabs live low-profile lives scuttling over tropical beaches, Howie is clearly the exception. He goes on photo shoots, travels for meet-and-greets with fans, and rubs shoulders with other influencer animals.
Howie’s popularity shows no signs of ebbing. His owner receives inquiries about merchandising and TV appearances. For this little crab from the Pacific, the world is his oyster (once Jess cracks it open for him).
So while many mysteries of the ocean remain unsolved, the case of Howie’s celebrity status has been fully cracked. He’s achieved fame and fortune by simply being a fun-loving crustacean with a penchant for hats. For this clever crab, the sky’s the limit!
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Howie the rainbow crab knows sign language, how to walk on a leash and give a great high-five.
She displays her “happy mouth” when given a favorite treat.
Omaha owner Laura Porter really gets upset when Howie looks longingly at her from her aquarium. And, apparently, to the millions of viewers that follow her every move on social media.
“I think people just love the way I love her,” Porter said.
Five million people watched Porter’s first post, in which she cleaned Howie’s shell with a toothbrush. Considering she had only four friends on TikTok at the time, Porter was astonished.
The stay-at-home mom now has 600,000 followers between Instagram and TikTok. One million or more people have seen at least some of her posts. Editing them is pretty much her full-time job.
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Millions of viewers agonize when Howie molts. Ninety percent of rainbow crabs don’t make it through the painful shell-shedding process that Howie goes through every eight months.
They fret when she seems to get too many treats. Howie relishes meatloaf, cheese and junk food.
They adore — and worry — when she rolls around the house in a hamster ball.
“There is some debate about hamster balls,” Porter said. “They are not healthy for hamsters, but they still sell them.” “When they saw I put a crab in a hamster ball, the world went nuts. ”.
Just look at Howie in his cowboy hat—how could you say no to that? He has a lot of different hats, and many of them were knit by Porter, who likes to knit.
Because their daughter was so upset when her beta fish died eight years ago, Howie moved in with the Porters. She’s named after a character in the television show “Bobby’s World. Porter didn’t find out that Howie was a girl for a few years, but by then the name had stuck.
Porter began by posting videos of herself taking care of Howie, whose shell needs to be brushed to keep germs away. Afterward, she taught Howie sign language and shared those videos, just like she did when her daughter was a baby.
Howie taps her mouth once for food. They are working on the word more.
“She has food preferences,” Porter said. “She celebrates when she finds a food she really loves or she does a ‘happy mouth. ’”.
Many people were afraid of her because she looked like a huge spider, but she puts up with the hats because Porter thought they made Howie more human.
Rainbow crabs aren’t an easy pet. They have to be carefully fed so they get just the right amount of protein. They can get deadly shell rot. Some live three to five years in captivity, but for many, it’s just around three months, Porter said.
Porter knows that Howie likes her 55-gallon aquarium set up with half water and half places to lay down, but she still gets bored. Hence the walks. She’ll even sit on the couch with Porter to watch TV.
Like any pet, she wants to be with her owner. She’ll run to her when scared.
“I can pick her up and snuggle her. I can put her on my head. She doesn’t trust anyone else,” Porter said.
A lot of people ask Porter about Howie’s care, and Porter also gives advice to people who have their own crabs. The whole endeavor isn’t a money-maker, Porter said. It’s a love story.
“She really is loved by people,” Porter said. “I think they like that she is kind of like a cat. She has boundaries. Right before she molts, she gets really crabby. ”.
When the geriatric crab gets crabby, she gets a little extra TLC. After all, at more than 8 years old, she’s already beating the odds.
“I’m just doing the best for her to make her as happy and healthy as possible,” Porter said. “It’s the right thing to do. ”.
Omaha’s Howie the Crab steals hearts worldwide, as mom aims to educate
Is Howie a rainbow crab?
“She’s very loving but still a crab.” Howie the rainbow crab knows sign language, how to walk on a leash and give a great high-five. She displays her “happy mouth” when given a favorite treat. It’s when Howie gazes longingly at her from her aquarium, though, that really gets to Omaha owner Laura Porter.
Can a Howie crab survive a shell break?
This can be a very painful time in a crab’s life, since it involves separating their skin from their shells. Porter says that Howie is unlikely to survive this final transition, since she has already exceeded the traditional life expectancy for her breed.
Does Howie molt a rainbow crab?
Millions of viewers agonize when Howie molts. Ninety percent of rainbow crabs don’t survive the painful shedding of their shells, which occurs every eight months at Howie’s age. They fret when she seems to get too many treats. Howie relishes meatloaf, cheese and junk food. Howie has lived much longer than most rainbow crabs.
Does Laura Porter have a crab?
People on social media can’t get enough of Laura Porter and her crab, Howie. “People see the duality of her personality,” Porter said. “She’s very loving but still a crab.” Howie the rainbow crab knows sign language, how to walk on a leash and give a great high-five. She displays her “happy mouth” when given a favorite treat.