MyMemeCards editorial team
Watch the ref
Nobody has added this meme's ref yet. Got the original video or post?
In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Bad Joke Eel” is an epic card of the Memes World series 70, number 20880 of the collection, and the 92nd best-known meme of its 243 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “Bad Joke Eel” meme mean?
This visual expresses deep embarrassment mixed with an expectation of recognition. The eel seems to say: "I know it's bad, but clap anyway." It is used to highlight the absurdity of a failed joke, whether intentionally poor or just clumsy. It represents the face of guilt over humor that doesn't land, while remaining playful and self-mocking.
Where does the “Bad Joke Eel” meme come from?
The original photograph was taken by Jeffrey N. Jeffords during a dive in the Philippines. It first circulated on the forum FARK on October 13, 2009, then on the humorous site So Much Pun on January 25, 2011. The Advice Animal format as we know it today appeared on Reddit, in r/AdviceAnimals, on January 12, 2012. The thread reached the site's front page and the image was viewed more than 400,000 times in four days. A Quickmeme page dedicated to the meme was created the same day, generating more than 700 variants in four days. The meme serves to present a pun so poor that the author seems to expect applause while implicitly displaying shame. It is used as a reaction image or caption for puns, 'dad jokes', and intentionally pathetic wordplay, in a format similar to Lame Pun Coon.
- 2009The photo circulates on the FARK forum on October 13, 2009.
- 2011It appears on the humorous site So Much Pun on January 25, 2011.
- 2012The Advice Animal montage is published on Reddit on January 12, 2012, and goes viral.
How to use the “Bad Joke Eel” meme
- Share this image after telling a joke that made your audience fall into an awkward silence.
- Use it to comment on a forced pun in a friendly conversation, fully owning the awfulness of the remark.
- Add it to a message to signal that you just said something incredibly cheesy, but with a smile.
Also searched as
- Bad Joke Eel
- Moray Eel Bad Joke
- Advice Animal Terrible Pun
- bad joke eel meme
- bad joke eel meaning
- bad joke eel origin
- jeffrey n jeffords moray eel
- bad joke eel reddit
- advice animal bad pun
The “Bad Joke Eel” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 20880 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Epic |
| Collection | Memes World series 70 |
| Fame | 78/100 · #92 of 243 |
| Recycle value | 20 MemeCoins (60 in Shiny) |
How to get the “Bad Joke Eel” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Bad Joke Eel comes out of the Memes World series 70 as an epic card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 20 MemeCoins.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “Bad Joke Eel”
More cards of the Memes World series 70
Frequently asked questions
What does bad joke eel mean?
It is an Advice Animal meme showing a moray eel with wide eyes. It symbolizes the shame of saying a dumb joke or a disastrous pun.
Bad joke eel origin photo?
The photo is from Jeffrey N. Jeffords, taken during a dive in the Philippines. It was first used on FARK in 2009 before becoming a Reddit meme in 2012.
Who is jeffrey n jeffords?
He is the underwater photographer who took the original image of the eel. He published it on his Dive Gallery website before it went viral on the internet.
How do I get the Bad Joke Eel meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Bad Joke Eel” is an epic card of the Memes World series 70. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the Bad Joke Eel card?
It is an Epic card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: Bad Joke Eel | Know Your Meme · Know Your Meme · Bad Joke Eel Meme: Origin, History, and How It Spread · checked on October 11, 2026.
Read next
Want Bad Joke Eel in your collection?
Open your free pack: 5 meme cards, no account needed.