Homeless hermit crabs get some MakerBot help

Like a lot of other people I didn’t realize that hermit crabs had a big homelessness problem but according to Mile Lightwood this is indeed the case.

Normally hermit crabs will abandon a shell that has gotten too small and go hunting for a larger one to take up residence in larger empty shells; but apparently there is a major shortage of shells of all sizes which means that hermit crabs are facing a housing shortage. This might not seem like much of a big deal but unlike its crab brethren the hermit crab doesn’t have a hard exterior shell which leaves them vulnerable to predators.

So to help out MakerBot, the maker of 3D printers has launched the Project Shellter initiative to create shells using the company’s 3D printers. These shells will then be made available for the homeless hermit crabs to take up residence in.

Of course there are a few details that have to be worked out yet, like the biodegradability of the shells, safety for the crabs, as well as finding out what design preferences hermit crabs have when it comes to their new homes.

If this kind of project appeals to you and you happen to own a 3D printer you can head over to the MakerBot’s Thingverse and sign up to help out.

via Geekosystem