HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi everyone,
After much research, I have begun preparations to buy 3/4 hermit crabs. I have found that sourcing accessories and shells may be the most cumbersome aspect in terms of upfront purchases. It would make my life infinitely easier if I could just 3D print the shells and maybe a hut, but I did not want to try this before I was certain that PLA or ABS is non-toxic, and will not harm/irritate any potential crabs. PLA shells would be ideal, due to the reduced cost and slight environmental advantages, and the reduced fumes when printing.

Thanks
Apologies if there is already a post detailing this.

I would recommend ABS. Marine aquarists use ABS as PLA has the tenacity to dissolve - which probably won't happen in the crabitat even with high humidity - PLA is biodegradable to a degree, and who knows what the crabs may ingest.

Crabs are likely not to wear 3D printed shells, so if you do decide to print out some, I would advise to also have plenty of natural options.

I imagine something like Cholla would be a good/interesting thing to print out, maybe a ramp or two for the water dishes? Depending on the size you can make it - or how well you can make interlocking pieces - you could make levels?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showt ... ?t=2582588

Thank you so much for your advice! I should be setting my tank up in about a week and a half, will keep this thread updated with what I end up printing

Please let us about how it all works out. My kids want to try 3D printing decor for our classroom crabitat.

I printed this to test dimensions today! I doubt it’s going to work as is, it seems pretty thin, rough and uncomfortable, but I think once I perfect everything the crabs are really gonna prefer these as they are much lighter than natural ones. Only time will tell I guess.
Also will use uncoloured plastic for the actual ones, even though coloured should be fine I want to be on the safe side

Cholla and modular climbing/ramp pieces coming soon

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If hermit crabs are unable to modify these, it is unlikely they would use them when given the option of choosing between natural or 3D printed.

They secrete a substance to melt the inner whorls of their shell and they also pick at them to accommodate their eyestalks.


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soilentgringa wrote:If hermit crabs are unable to modify these, it is unlikely they would use them when given the option of choosing between natural or 3D printed.

They secrete a substance to melt the inner whorls of their shell and they also pick at them to accommodate their eyestalks.


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Wow I didn’t know that’s what they meant by “modify”

I hope my crabs do prefer the printed ones but I doubt it. They have plenty of natural ones to choose from anyway


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I have my fingers crossed for successful 3D printing of shells. It would be beneficial in so many ways, and with specialty printers I'm sure a more natural blend of materials could be used to replicate natural snail shells. The first hurdle is finding a way to design and print to where they are comfortable enough!

Maybe one day powdered shells mixed in with printer filament (as various woods and metals are right now), so that they can be reshaped by the crabs? But yes, printed shells have so much potential and would make getting the perfect fit for a crab so much easier (and cheaper!)

For now, we continue testing


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3D printing shells sound so cool! When they go on the market I'll be buying!

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squid wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 24, 2019 12:28 pm

I printed this to test dimensions today! I doubt it’s going to work as is, it seems pretty thin, rough and uncomfortable, but I think once I perfect everything the crabs are really gonna prefer these as they are much lighter than natural ones. Only time will tell I guess.
Also will use uncoloured plastic for the actual ones, even though coloured should be fine I want to be on the safe side

Cholla and modular climbing/ramp pieces coming soon

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Did you end up using pla or abs