Project Shellter On Thingiverse

3D printer technology is being used for conservation of hermit crabs. Apparently there is a shortage of shells for hermit crabs to use as homes. The animals do not make their own shells and have been forced, as a species, to start using discarded bottles and such due to the shell shortage. The idea being put forth by MakerBot Industries is to make shells with 3D printers for the little creatures. The people working on Project Shellter have set up hermit crab habitats to test out this idea. They are taking suggestions for shell shapes to try within the habitats to see what the crabs like best. Crabtastic!

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Sun Oct 23, 2011
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Comments

Nifty project. I like the idea and they are not being preachy like every single PETA project is either.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 10/23/11 at 10:54 PM

If the crabs are adapting to whatever they can find then what's all the fuss about "the perfect shape". Seems to me the the critters aren't too fussy.

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/24/11 at 12:32 AM

Q: What do you call a domicillicly challenged hermit crab?
A: Octo-lunch!
:lol:

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/24/11 at 05:17 AM

Love it! :lol:

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 10/24/11 at 05:24 AM

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