Reviewed and updated: October 27, 2022 by Jamie Wilson BA
Your search for a crab tattoo idea ends here with our awesome list of ocean tattoo ideas, claw tattoos and crab tattoos full of meanings and secrets!
Crabs are invertebrates that live in the sea.
Crabs are known to be shy, defensive, and persistent animals. In astrology, the Cancer zodiac sign is represented by a crab, which is used to represent creativity, sensitivity, and insecurity.
Crabs are significant creatures in various cultures and mythologies as these creatures are used as symbols of communication, navigation, water elements and protectors of sea gods and seafarers. These creatures are considered powerful and tough creatures due to their hard shell. Crabs are also a symbol of rebirth, protection and loyalty. As power animals, they are the symbol of peace and tranquility as they are peaceful animals that go on with their lives, minding their own business and making friends along the way. Fun Fact: Crabs can run in any direction.
Crab Tattoo Art for the people under the Cancer zodiac sign
Cancer is the fourth astrological sign in the zodiac and comes from the constellation Cancer. The animal crab is the symbolism of this zodiac, the sign is most commonly represented by the crab. People under this sign of the zodiac are often shielded and, like Cancer, have a hard exterior that does not want to open up to other people so easily. In the world of astrology, Cancer people are perceived as cold and distant in order to protect themselves
This small tattoo is a good example of the crab tattoo idea with a simple crab design done with minimal black ink that will look good on your arm or any other part of the body.
Badass crab tattoo idea
This absolutely badass crab tattoo is one of the many designs that perfectly represent how tough crabs can be! The skull design on the shell gives this tattoo a unique perspective that goes well with the crab portrait and represents the symbolism of the toughness of the hard-shelled animal.
Crab tattoos like this one fit right in with the powerful theme of the tough exterior idea and are signs of the uniqueness that comes with the design.
Art nouveau crab tattoo idea for art lovers
This tattoo design shares its unique characteristics with those of tattoos that fall under the categories of the many Art Nouveau tattoo designs you would find under others.
The features on this crab tattoo were intricately drawn by the artist and people with a keen eye for art might recognize designs like this at a glance as there are other crab tattoos like this that are similar to other Art Nouveau designs.
This medium sized tattoo can be a great addition to your arms, legs or back. If this tattoo design seems important to your liking, you can leave it as is or add elements that mean something to the tattoo and make it a bit different.
Hermit Crab Tattoo Design for the people looking for rich symbolism
If you are someone who is always thinking – “What does a crab tattoo mean?” then this hermit crab tattoo is another of the many crab tattoo ideas that will help you figure out the symbolism of the animal. The hermit crab tattoo symbolism represents communication and relationships as these crabs are great at socializing.
The blue, red and various hues on the shell are a good addition to the idea as the vibrant colors compliment the tattoo and give it a vibrant look. A crab tattoo like this is a great design to get inked with when done right and right in line with your good natured personality.
Nice Crab Tattoo Idea for nice art lovers
This absolutely adorable crab tattoo is one of the many ideas that are simple in design yet able to show their cuteness despite the simplicity mentioned above. Tattoo ideas like this crab may look simple but are actually difficult because of the details that are put into them to make them look even better.
A traditional crab tattoo like this is the next best design related to various crab tattoo ideas to get inked with as they are the perfect sign of the crab and their carefree life.
Oni Crab Tattoo Design for the Japanese tattoo enthusiasts
This amazing crab tattoo is the love child of artistic crab design and Japanese symbolism of crabs, which believes that crabs embody the soul of the dead samurai. This tattoo design is known as “Heikegani” which means Samurai Crab.
This is one of the many good crab tattoo ideas that give life to the meaning of the samurai crab.
Tribal Crab Tattoo Design for the old school folk
This amazing crab tattoo idea brings a whole new meaning to the tribal genre as it utilizes the bold art style drawn in many uniform gaps that come together to form the crab portrait. A crab tattoo like this can be used either as a zodiac tattoo or as a regular tattoo with no specific meanings or tones.
In case you want this tattoo to be some kind of symbol that represents certain meanings, you can put other elements in it that represent protection or rebirth, which crabs symbolize.
Crab Sunset Tattoo Design for the carefree personalities
If you are someone who likes to show how calm and collected they are, then this is one of the many crab tattoos that conveys a relaxed vibe. The colors added to the tattoo add to the vibrant look of the tattoo with the yellow sun, sea and orange sky perfectly suiting the calm lifestyle and living to the fullest.
You can put more crabs in this tattoo design to give it a more vibrant look!
Origami Crab Tattoo Idea representing the Cancer Zodiac Sign
This tattoo idea takes the Japanese concept of origami and creates a pattern that is much better to look at than some minimalist tattoo ideas. The neatly designed folded paper outline is drawn well enough to tell at a glance that the artwork is a crab.
If you want to represent your way of living a simple life, then this tattoo will suit you perfectly!
Blue crab tattoo idea for the happy souls
This beautiful tattoo is a great example of how pretty they can be when filled with bright colors and a beautiful sketch to complement it. The crab’s mouth is replaced with a flower, which gives a nice tone to the sketch, and the bright color complements it.
If you are an art lover then this tattoo is perfect for you!
Here are some other crab tattoo suggestions:
- Cartoon crab tattoo
- Crab in the beach tattoo
- Crab with Cancer Constellation Tattoo
- Sebastian the crab tattoo from the little mermaid