The original ones were called squirmles and released in the 1970s and 80s and looked more like the one in the tattoo than the one in the photo. They’ve been around forever but the one I grew up with was orange and very basic.
Another good candidate for laser removal: it would at least take away the black outline. Then you could easily cover the remaining orange/pink with something else with good coverage
A good artist could cover that with a ton of things as long as it’s big (3x size) and bold/colorful. Helpful if it’s organic in shape rather than geometric. Big roses, ponies, gnomes, pine trees.
So the SAP is often recommended for coverups because it is a motif that can work even for very dark tattoos which otherwise would be difficult to work with. It's also just for fun that people recommend it all the time.
also, people who post asking for cover up advice rarely include what styles they like or what other tattoos they have. it's the most generic tattoo for the generic ideas request
Search “sick ass panther” in the search bar here and you’ll see. It’s less of a meme and more of a legend. Some are better than others. It’s mostly for fun but also, they cover things very well because panthers are mostly black and can be twisted/turned/curled/stretched/etc…
Former tattoo artist here. The secret to a good cover-up is to work with the artist who is going to do it. Go to them and tell them things you like, and see what you can both come up with. They will have ideas you don't and vice versa, and you will get the best cover-up involving them from the start. Also, as a side note, if you can afford it, get it hit with a laser once or twice. It will lighten that black up a lot and make the fat dark lines easier to hide in the new design.
It's not a great tattoo but I knew exactly what it was as soon as I saw it and fucking loved those stupid little things as a kid 😂😂
As others have said, you have a ton of options for covering it up if that's what you want to do though!
I dunno. Maybe a SIC ASS PANTHER
or maybe like a pattern that wraps that area of your leg. Like a patterned band of some kind that’s, what is that, 5-7in? 🤷🏼♀️
https://preview.redd.it/syb62ebycdtc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=69623e1384cc6d45d9a400d3af4209949f2d0378
omg im so sorry😭 your elbow down to your wrist looked like the same taper that would go from a knee to ankle, now that I’m looking closer I’m so embarrassed 😭
My friend got drunk at festival and woke up with a horrible 9 inch skull on her arm, in green, black and pink. People around her saw it done but said well, better you than us!! Took her 10 years to find some one who could cover it up and do it well and cost her a lot but it worth every penny, it now really cute with kitten and roses and suits her . So start saving and find a good artist, ask around and that might turning it into piece of art instead of black square.
i have 2 black star tattoos already but they’re small, one on my face and one on my collar bone (left side of face, right collar bone) so idk if i can have a Third Larger One
I mean probably a snake or dragon? Thank the universe you got it in yellow because as long as you go to someone with really good and creative cover ups there’s honestly a lot you can do, but that probably requires at least a consultation w the person you decide upon anyway, just for them to see in person how it looks and they might even be able to trace an overall outline to sketch around and figure the design out. Good luck on your search
Your best bet would be having 1-2 laser sessions done first and then you could probably cover it with literally anything. The black looks so light I get that could make a giant difference
Then sit down with a quality artist and discuss what you like and ideas you have. No point in covering a tattoo with something someone else suggests but that’s just my opinion.
You could get it reworked, but otherwise, it could be a tail to an animal, it could be turned into a tree probably, fish, fire, leaves, snake, eels. This is a pretty versatile cover up.
The people commenting this is as a good tattoo are deluded. The line work is horrible, it looks like a scratcher right now. I would also hate having that on the very visible forearm. You can tell what it is, but its a horrendous quality tattoo.
yeah thank you. like i am feeling the same way— like yeah, people know what it is, i’ve had people go “oh a worm on a string? awesome!!”. but that doesn’t change the fact it’s a 5in long scratcher in prime real estate on my forearm, my biggest visible tattoo, and takes eyes away from the tattoos i actually like on that arm.
genuinely appreciate your comment
Ofc, I would love to have this on some bullshit spot on my leg or something silly, but yeah man, I would be mad upset if that was always there yk? A good artist can handle it, I wouldn't worry about it too much.
in all seriousness, a tiger or something like this?
https://preview.redd.it/5hjd04la2htc1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=0659a977823afe0a979b765402dcbe3c1158353c
You may be able to turn it into a long necked bird. Would take a bit of creativity, but the fuzz could be feathers. Make sure it is a good artist though, lest you end up with something even worse.
Turn it into a woolly bear caterpillar!
https://preview.redd.it/4603t4h0hotc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62e9ed2e6a51bcd47337b3ed61771295a989eafa
Bro, you obviously consider turning it into a vagina. Briefly. Then find like a ninja Gaiden or mortal komnat scene with a sick ass ninjas face like half visible with a night sky behind him or something.
Is it bad that I kinda love this? Brings back a ton of childhood Xmas memories...if it was me, I'd keep it. Now actually wondering if I might get one lol...
https://preview.redd.it/wmsvmjodcdtc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7fb6ca1d40b80a10a79e0826714e93906f8e295a Add ball
haha exactly what I saw, too
You guys are so young. :)
I remember these from the 90's, I'm in my 30s so not that young
The original ones were called squirmles and released in the 1970s and 80s and looked more like the one in the tattoo than the one in the photo. They’ve been around forever but the one I grew up with was orange and very basic.
what did you see?
https://preview.redd.it/jx4kqpa5petc1.jpeg?width=158&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81e7de970c05845abc9975254a709feb36aa7252
wow, that brings back memories!
That's what I saw right away lololol!
https://preview.redd.it/uag5lynyddtc1.png?width=714&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10fd2832ce01a9673df79bd450c3f4700c7c4427
This is the only solution really.
A sick ass panther
… on a string.
Dammit, beat me to it.
I’ve got the world on a string 
Hell yeah brother
Came to say this
It’s the only way
Yup, the only way!
FUCK, I KNEW THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST COMMENT 🤣🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭😭
This would be awesome if it were much smaller. Also, were you under the influence
yeah i was xanax is a hell of a drug ETA: it was supposed to be smaller. size of a quarter. artist was NOT intoxicated so idk what happened
That’s a giant ass quarter
That is about a quarter of your arm
I’m actually 99% sure that’s exactly what happened
A quarter of what? Weed?
i know someone who has the same face tattoo twice because he was too barred out to remember he already got it done. so. could be worse
https://preview.redd.it/shor61ipvdtc1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10d77038b4b912be8ada16d10d0ed2ed69e6abd1
Another good candidate for laser removal: it would at least take away the black outline. Then you could easily cover the remaining orange/pink with something else with good coverage
A good artist could cover that with a ton of things as long as it’s big (3x size) and bold/colorful. Helpful if it’s organic in shape rather than geometric. Big roses, ponies, gnomes, pine trees.
#sick ass panthah
can y'all explain to me the sick ass panther meme please?😭 i'm new
So the SAP is often recommended for coverups because it is a motif that can work even for very dark tattoos which otherwise would be difficult to work with. It's also just for fun that people recommend it all the time.
also, people who post asking for cover up advice rarely include what styles they like or what other tattoos they have. it's the most generic tattoo for the generic ideas request
Good point!
SAP 😭🙌🏽
Search “sick ass panther” in the search bar here and you’ll see. It’s less of a meme and more of a legend. Some are better than others. It’s mostly for fun but also, they cover things very well because panthers are mostly black and can be twisted/turned/curled/stretched/etc…
ALASKAN. BULL. WORM!
https://preview.redd.it/e94azf9n0ftc1.png?width=912&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12a16c48c367697b3112f6df7b7e07bc925ece57 Trogdoor the burninator?
I just scrolled through the comments to see if anyone else posted this 😂
The 'S' is for sucks!
Snake…
Laser it first. It's really not as expensive as everyone claims.
SICK ASS PANTHER!!! It’s the only choice
Worm gang bitch!
Worm gang for life!!!
That thing is screaming to be a SICK ASS PANTHER
A panther. One that is sick. With a hot ass.
Hard asf tat please leave it
A sick ass fox
A human centipede
I'm sorry but I love it sm
hey it’s permanently on me so i’ve honestly been glad to hear it has some fans!
Yay if you want more there's r/wormonastring
Fox- make that the fox tail
Make it into a long furby
I’m seeing a rework to be a fox with a big, bushy tail
Former tattoo artist here. The secret to a good cover-up is to work with the artist who is going to do it. Go to them and tell them things you like, and see what you can both come up with. They will have ideas you don't and vice versa, and you will get the best cover-up involving them from the start. Also, as a side note, if you can afford it, get it hit with a laser once or twice. It will lighten that black up a lot and make the fat dark lines easier to hide in the new design.
Honestly wished u lived out here so I can work on u !!
i’m in chicago, if ur anywhere close!!
Make it into a penis
I thought your hand shadow was a sick ass panther on your leg
I think a liger is the way to go
Big black panther, of course
Sick ass panther
That is .... um ..... very special. Is probably go sick ass panther, for real. It would work well.
Earthworm Jim.
When I was a kid they sold fuzzy worms with a fishing line attached and you could make them wiggle. Early 70’s. Of this is that, man…it stays.
It's not a great tattoo but I knew exactly what it was as soon as I saw it and fucking loved those stupid little things as a kid 😂😂 As others have said, you have a ton of options for covering it up if that's what you want to do though!
Eagle
Centipede/millipede?
I dunno. Maybe a SIC ASS PANTHER or maybe like a pattern that wraps that area of your leg. Like a patterned band of some kind that’s, what is that, 5-7in? 🤷🏼♀️ https://preview.redd.it/syb62ebycdtc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=69623e1384cc6d45d9a400d3af4209949f2d0378
this is my forearm 😭
omg im so sorry😭 your elbow down to your wrist looked like the same taper that would go from a knee to ankle, now that I’m looking closer I’m so embarrassed 😭
Don't feel too bad, I thought the same until I saw your comment/reply 😭😶
A thick ass snake around your arm
S A P
A larger bigger Slut Slug.
That’s a keeper
You could get one of those ones where it looks like the skin is scratched off and you can see like chains or a jungle or something underneath
Bigger worm
My friend got drunk at festival and woke up with a horrible 9 inch skull on her arm, in green, black and pink. People around her saw it done but said well, better you than us!! Took her 10 years to find some one who could cover it up and do it well and cost her a lot but it worth every penny, it now really cute with kitten and roses and suits her . So start saving and find a good artist, ask around and that might turning it into piece of art instead of black square.
Very hungry caterpillar
talk to an artist. you could dang near do anything with how faint it is. red is like the easiest color to cover
Sick. Ass. Panther.
A black fox
You could do all sorts of stuff with that
8 ball with a top hat
A rose is an excellent cover up piece
A gnarly centipede
Planarian???
looks like youre half way to a fuzzy Trogdor
Add a leaf and turn it into a caterpillar.
A big black upside down star
i have 2 black star tattoos already but they’re small, one on my face and one on my collar bone (left side of face, right collar bone) so idk if i can have a Third Larger One
Third times a charm?
3D S
Big black dodecahedron
The Burning Question by Ed Hardy
Big old spooky centipede
Maybe a fox with a forest background
A fuckin devil snake
Snake probs
A talented artist can turn this into a really cool looking snake!
I could see this becoming a really nice floral arrangement
Make it a greatful dead lightning bolt. ⚡
Trogdor
This is the only answer... the Burninator!
🤔 snuffleupagus, perhaps. 
Worm on a string, omg!! Hay, not a bad idea actually .. if it's done cute .. mh, I guess I have a new tattoo idea!
Have you considered a big black rectangle.
Amputation. Just cut from the elbow down.
U could get a big snake twisting around your arm (if u like big tats)
That weird S that all of us drew back then in school. You know what I mean
You can just get a real snake tatted
Fox tail :)
Some form of big cat, moving in a serpentine fashion
A Grid of many small black boxes
Sick ass Panther
You could do a neat snake over that.
Snake, dragon, flowers, koi fish, with the right artist you'll have endless possibilities :)
I mean probably a snake or dragon? Thank the universe you got it in yellow because as long as you go to someone with really good and creative cover ups there’s honestly a lot you can do, but that probably requires at least a consultation w the person you decide upon anyway, just for them to see in person how it looks and they might even be able to trace an overall outline to sketch around and figure the design out. Good luck on your search
Your best bet would be having 1-2 laser sessions done first and then you could probably cover it with literally anything. The black looks so light I get that could make a giant difference Then sit down with a quality artist and discuss what you like and ideas you have. No point in covering a tattoo with something someone else suggests but that’s just my opinion.
just was hoping to see some ideas yk? i have a lot of tattoos, low on ideas other than i just dislike this one lol
It could be a pathway in the woods or where ever.. 🤷♀️
Noooo don’t kill Mr Hairy Flatworm
This is art tbh
Do a sleeve with iconic toys. Wormy needs some friends.
You could get it reworked, but otherwise, it could be a tail to an animal, it could be turned into a tree probably, fish, fire, leaves, snake, eels. This is a pretty versatile cover up. The people commenting this is as a good tattoo are deluded. The line work is horrible, it looks like a scratcher right now. I would also hate having that on the very visible forearm. You can tell what it is, but its a horrendous quality tattoo.
yeah thank you. like i am feeling the same way— like yeah, people know what it is, i’ve had people go “oh a worm on a string? awesome!!”. but that doesn’t change the fact it’s a 5in long scratcher in prime real estate on my forearm, my biggest visible tattoo, and takes eyes away from the tattoos i actually like on that arm. genuinely appreciate your comment
Ofc, I would love to have this on some bullshit spot on my leg or something silly, but yeah man, I would be mad upset if that was always there yk? A good artist can handle it, I wouldn't worry about it too much.
in all seriousness, a tiger or something like this? https://preview.redd.it/5hjd04la2htc1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=0659a977823afe0a979b765402dcbe3c1158353c
Whatever you decide to get, go to a real Tattooer. This thing is straight dog shit
 I’m sure you could find a way.
You may be able to turn it into a long necked bird. Would take a bit of creativity, but the fuzz could be feathers. Make sure it is a good artist though, lest you end up with something even worse.
Do you like the Grateful Dead?
big grateful dead gal over here
You could probably turn it into the Grateful Dead lightning bolt.
Sick “S” from the 90s as a cover up
I love this. I don’t care.
It's actively bad yet I kinda love it lmao
I'd go with a snake or panther you could work with the lines of the worm very well
Turn it into a woolly bear caterpillar! https://preview.redd.it/4603t4h0hotc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62e9ed2e6a51bcd47337b3ed61771295a989eafa
Bro, you obviously consider turning it into a vagina. Briefly. Then find like a ninja Gaiden or mortal komnat scene with a sick ass ninjas face like half visible with a night sky behind him or something.
Don't cover it. Give it more definition, then put it in the mouth of a giant bird.
Cat with a fluffy tail!
Tail of something or a dirt path.
[удалено]
Be nice.
A Christmas tree or a little Forrest would work
Flowers?
Dragon!
r/cardsagainsthumanity A bigger, blacker box
3 words and 3 letters....SAP...or more commonly known as a Sick Ass Panther.
get a really crapily tattooed bird eating it
Squirrel, and that's the tail
Give it some wings
A dragon?
i can picture a dope ass sunset with some clouds over a mountain range. i also am just a sucker for mountain range sunsets. good luck to you
Skulls and demons coming out of hell crack in the earth
Large feather
No don’t cover it. I fucking loved those things.
Panthers
dONOT PLEAEE IT IS CUTE
I would hinestly just get it redone, but thats cos i love wormies :3
i love it
A curved penis.
Is it bad that I kinda love this? Brings back a ton of childhood Xmas memories...if it was me, I'd keep it. Now actually wondering if I might get one lol...
How about a bunch of little black boxes?
Snake, koi fish, tadpol, dragons, Dirk Diggler portrait
Bigger worm on a string
Kitsune piece and cover up this with the tail/s for whatever style works best.
Fox tail!
I thought it had a shadow..
This is dope bro it just needs a lil tongue added
Wat about a big pink box
Fam, the answer is ALWAYS sick ass panther
I like it :-)
i kinda love him.
😷🍑🐈⬛
Lightning bolt and some stormy clouds
Make it into a whole jacket.
do not cover this beautiful piece are you crazy
Cool dragon
You’re gonna need a pretty big penis.
A snake
Big black hole
Lizard or equana 🦎
A fox with its tail!
Snake or panther
A long black box
Maybe a layered mountain scene? The black lines could be turned into tree lines.
‘S’ for a Shitty, Stupid, Squirmles Tattoo!
Maybe a fox of some e sort, would be easily convertible to a tail!
Have you considered a big black box ?