At first look, people aren’t going to be impressed with this water creature. It looks strange and almost scary which may be the reason why some would never consider getting an eel tattoo. But to you, an eel is much more than a jiggly, snake-like animal.
These animals operate during the night and hide in the mud during the day. They’re great at hiding and protecting themselves from the dangers that lurk in the deep waters. So, they definitely represent the ability to survive anything that life throws at you.
Eels can live in saline and fresh waters which shows how adaptable they are. This is another reason why people choose to get them tattooed on their skin. When you’re looking for inspiration for those days when nothing seems to be working as expected, think of an eel and you’ll instantly feel better.
Endurant and capable, these mysterious creatures can teach you a lot about life. So, if you’re looking to get one on your skin, here are some ideas we love.
1. Deepwater eel
Creepy but cool! That’s how we would describe this eel. It can survive in the deep sea thanks to its adaptability. If you’re looking to get it tattooed, then you’re going to love this design that embraces the dark color of this creature.
2. European eel
What makes this type of eel unique is the fact that it’s endangered. If you consider yourself a rarity in the modern world, you can get a tattoo of a European eel to embrace that.
3. Eel skeleton
One of the options for those of you who are looking for a different approach to an eel tattoo is to get its skeleton. We love the details and all the light strokes on this tattoo.
4. Longfin eel
Are you looking for something that’s going to spread all over your arm? This longfin eel is famous for its length and is a perfect choice when you wish to get a bigger tattoo. We have to mention that we love the dot work on this one since it brings life into the design.
5. Eel in a natural habitat
If you wish to get a more detailed tattoo, you can always choose to add other elements to your eel design. Its natural habitat is definitely the way to go, especially if you’re obsessed with water and everything that’s hiding underneath it.
6. Moray eel
Moray eels look dangerous and honestly, you would not like to get close to them. If you love how different and creepy they are, then you’re going to love this tattoo idea as well.
7. Fighting through the waves
Eels swim with their whole bodies which just goes to show how adaptable they are. You can depict their endurance through this cool design. It’s also a great option if you like traditional-style tattoos.
8. Vibrant eels
Are you looking for something with a bit more color? These vibrant eels are the way to go when you’re not afraid of bold shades.
9. Heart-shaped eel
This black and gray heart-shaped eel is another design we love since it’s easily adjustable. You can place it anywhere you want and you can also adjust its size to your liking.
10. Electric eel
Electric eels have a poor eye-sight and they compensate it with electricity. They use electric signals to move around, look for a mate, and protect themselves from prey. That’s truly unique and we love how capable they are.
11. Simple fine-line eel
Do you wish to get a simple fine-line tattoo of an eel but you couldn’t stumble upon a design that ticked all the boxes? We believe that this one has all it takes for you to like.
12. The question mark eel
Eels are creatures surrounded by many questions that people still haven’t been able to answer. So, we love the idea of getting a tattoo of an eel that looks like a question mark to symbolize its mysterious nature.
13. Intertwined eels
These intertwined eels are also a great choice when you’re not afraid to commit to a bigger tattoo. We also love the simple design of this one that has just enough details.
14. Zebra moray eel
It looks like a zebra but it’s an eel. If you appreciate the way this creature looks, then you may consider getting it tattooed on your skin. It’s a perfect choice for all of you who are looking for a black and gray tattoo.
15. Traditional and simple eel tattoo
Do you still love traditional tattoos even though people have seen to forgotten about them? This simple, minimalistic design is perfect for all the lovers of the old-school style.
16. Looking-real-eel
When you’re into realistic tattoos, you wish for something that will make others take a second look because they can’t comprehend how real your design appears. This is exactly what you’ll get with this naturalistic tattoo idea from the above.
17. New Zealand longfin eel
Here we have another realistic tattoo of an eel that looks like it came straight from the deep waters. We love the shading on this one since it gives it another dimension.
See also: 22 Revolutionary Rooster Tattoos You Won’t Regret Getting
18. An eel and a skull
Are you looking for something edgy? Something abstract and unique? You may love this design since it’s completely different from any other tattoo on the list.
19. Ribbon eel
Ribbon eels are long and thin creatures that change gender during their lifetime. This shows just how adaptable they are which could be the reason to get them. Another cool thing is that their thin body can fit and adjust to any part of your body. Think of a place where you want to get a tattoo and this eel will fit.
20. Eternal eel
This eel looks like a symbol of infinity, with its long body wrapping back and forth. We love it for its simple design which consists of black and white ink only. So, what do you think about it?
