Inside: Dreamy Snail Tattoo Ideas (The Cutest Creatures).

When you think of getting an animal tattoo, most likely the first one that comes to mind is not the snail.

A lion, an owl, a deer, even a ladybug tattoo seems more likely. But a snail?

This overlooked creature is more than just its speed and slime. A snail embodies the slow and steady speed of Mother Nature, of life and happiness. If you really treasure something, really value the outcome, you don’t rush your way through it. No. You go slow and steady, marveling at the journey more than the final destination.

Snails are also symbols of being self-sufficient and responsible. Why? Well, it’s one of the few creatures in the animal kingdom that actually carries its house on its back! Plus, there’s a whole metaphysical element to the snail–the spiral on its shell can be seen as the unending journey of the human psyche. Just as a spiral goes on and on, so do our thoughts, so does our consciousness. Trippy, right?

See the deeper meanings and fun designs with these snail tattoo ideas!

Snail Designs

Snail Tattoo Meaning

Selecting the perfect animal tattoo isn’t an easy feat. Animal tattoos are often seen as being linked directly to the spirit. The animal you choose will have a long-lasting effect on your spirit, your life. If you truly want to embody the animal you get tattooed, making the right choice is an important decision.

Consider the snail. Snail tattoos aren’t very common, but maybe they should be. A snail’s body is protected by a hard, outer shell, a mobile home of sorts. If you’re someone who doesn’t like to stay rooted in one place for long, you share that restlessness of spirit with a snail. A snail is constantly on the move, constantly looking for something bigger, better, and brighter. Even though snails move extremely slowly, they never stop moving. They are great symbols for perseverance and dedication. Sometimes we look at our lives and think we’re not making any progress–we’re at a standstill. One moment a snail is one side of the yard and we, bored watching its miniscule progress, stop tracking it. The next time we look, voila! The snail has made it all the way to the other side of the yard. Like we said: Slow and steady wins the race.

Other symbolic meanings of the snail:

  • Progress
  • Being Grounded
  • Whimsy
  • Awareness
  • Observation
  • Patience
  • Expansion
  • Residual effects
  • Dreams
  • Consciousness
  • Time/phases/cycle

Cute Snail Tattoo Ideas

Let’s start off with some cute snail tattoo ideas that are packed full of charming character and whimsy designs. Trust us when we say, it’s going to be hard to decide what type of snail tattoo you want.

1. Simple Cute Snail with Sparkles

2.  Snail with Floral Print on Shell

3. Colorful Snail Design with Slow Down Quote

4. Snail Eating a Plant

5. Pair of Snails on a Little Mushroom

6. A Snail Eating a Strawberry

7. Colorful Floral Snail Design

Cute Snail Tattoo Ideas

8. Rainbow Striped Snail Shell

9. Galaxy Inspired Snail Art

10. Snail with a Donut Shell

11. “What is Life” Quote from Snail

12. Fun Purple Snail Design

13. Snail with Balloons

14. Snail Palm Tattoo with Flowers

15. Black and White Snail with Mushrooms

Small Snail Tattoo Design

These small designs are great if you’re not looking for a BIG commitment. The tiny details and fun placements patch the snail characteristics perfectly.

16. Small Snail with Linework on Forearm

17. Tiny Snail Outline on Ankle

18. Happy Little Snail Tattoo

19. Thin Line Snail and Bee Tattoo 

20. The Littlest Snail Design On Hand

21. Little Snail Sitting on a Plant

22. Simple Snail Outline

23. Small Realistic Snail Design

Small Snail Tattoo Designs

24. Simple Snail Tattoo Idea

25. Behind the Ear Snail Idea

26. Snail Temporary Tattoo

27. Small Detailed Little Snail

28. Watercolored Snail Design

29. Snail and Bumblebee Idea

30. Dotwork Design of Snail

Traditional Snail Tattoo Inspiration

A traditional and realistic snail design takes major skill, check out these amazingly talented design ideas.

31. Snail with Flowers Growing on Shell

32. Small Realistic Snail Tattoo Art

33. Traditional Snail Design in Detail

34. Super Realistic Snail Idea

35. Large Snails with Citrus Fruit Thigh Tattoo

36. Snail with Flowers Rib Tattoo

Traditional Snail Tattoo

37. Realistic Snail Design

38. Matching Tattoo Linework of Snails

39. Half Sleeve Snail and Mushrooms Design

40. Snail with Raspberries

41. Hand Holding Snails

42. Flowers around Snail Design

43. Black and White Snail with Little Mushrooms

44. Vibrant Snail Design

45. Colorful Shading on Tattoo of Snail

Favorite Cartoon Snails

We all have a favorite cartoon snail, Turbo, Gary? Who is your favorite?

46. Turbo Snail Tattoo

47. Colorful Cartoon Inspired Snail Design

48. Cinnamon Shell Snail Tattoo

49. Rainbow Colored Snail

50. Waving Snail Idea

Favorite Cartoon Snails

Gary the Snail Tattoo Ideas

51. Classic Gary from Spongebob

52. Small Gary with Meow

53. Party Hat Gary

54.  Vibrant Gary Foot Tattoo

55. Black Simple Outline of Gary

56. Spongebob Half Sleeve with Gary

57. Cringing Gary Art Inspiration

58. Colorful Gary Tattoo

59. Spongebob with Gary Tattoo

60. Gary Playing Violin Art Inspiration

61. BFF Spongebob and Gary Idea

Floral Print Snail Tattoos

We saved the best for last in our opinion. These floral and snail collabs are the perfect mixture of whimsical and dreamy!

62. Blue, Orange, and Yellow Snail Shell

63. Snail and Berries

64. Snail Crawling on Berry Bush

65. Orange Flowers Growing from Snail

66. Snail Covered in Colorful Flowers

67. Flowery Snail Art Inspiration

68. Hand Tattoo of Snail and Flowers

Floral Inspired Tattoos

69. Black and White Floral Snail

70. Sparkle Mushroom Snail Idea

71. Snails Crawling on Hand with Flowers

72. Snail with Pink Flowers

73. Black Outlined Floral Snail Shell

More Tattoo Inspiration Just For You

If you like these cute little snail tattoo ideas, then check out a few more of our favorite creature tattoo designs. Each of these living things holds a cool meaning that are a perfect reminder on your body.

  • Spider Tattoos – Another one of our favorite small creature tattoo ideas are these spider designs. Before you cringe too hard, these creepy creatures are packed with powerful and strong meaning. Although spiders have many negative associations and meanings, they have positive ones, too. Given this vast range of possible meanings, only the person wearing the design could tell you what it represents to them, but people seeing the design may bring any of these meanings to it. Some possibilities are…(Read More)
  • Fierce Lion Tattoos – Lions, are fierce, strong, and confident. If you’re looking to embody those characteristics, a lion tattoo is just the one for you! Lots of people are getting lion tattoos. You could be one of them! check out these fierce lion tattoos to see if this aristocratic animal is a good fit.
  • Lady Bug Tattoo – You can never have too much luck on your side… Am I right? Having a permanent representation of the ladybug on your body ensures that you travel with good luck closely in tow. The ladybug also symbolizes love, happiness, and friendship. This little bug tattoo would go perfect with your meaningful snail design. Check out our favorite inspiration for your next ink session.

Snail Tattoo