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Yes, go a head if you want to kill the last albatrosses in the world.

Google Chris Jordan and Albatrosses, and you might change your mind to release these plastic shells in the water.

Why not save the snails, and the hermit crab house problem will take care itself....

As always, stupid artists not having enough brain power to think about the disastrous effects of dumping even more toxic plastic in the ocean! Just stupid and thoughtless man!

I recently watched a video involving 3d printed glass from sand...perhaps there would be a way to use that technology to achieve the intended result in a considerably more eco friendly manner. theres even an oxford student that managed to do it using solar power and focused light from the sun, though it would take far too long to do it with "solar smelters"

I am not sure where this person got their information regarding the shortage of shells / homes for hermit crabs. Citation needed.

REALLY ROBIN??? YEAH LETS DROP A TON OF CERAMIC SHELLS INTO THE WATER SO THAT WHEN THEY HIT BOTTOM THEY CRACK AND BREAK... LOL GIVE YOUR HEAD A SHAKE

I read this on another site, and it might put to rest some of the "toxic plastic" concerns:

"Most likely they'd use PLA, polylactic acid plastic. Made from corn starch, tapioca, or sugarcane, and it biodegrades. Like half the Makerbot stuff uses PLA, it's got a very low melting point and runs faster than ABS."

A PR stunt that worked out pretty fucking well! Any press is good press, I had never heard of this company and I bet most people haven't now we know. I watched a few videos and really took a good look at their product. pretty damn neat. if i had more free time i'd be buying myself one for christmas!

But if the plastic were not toxic, and lasted well in the ocean, then they could be home to future generations of hermit crabs once their current occupant dies, or becomes too large for that shell.
Besides, printers can often use a variety of material.

They could print them out using Polylactic acid which is biodegradable. Polylactic Acid is made from starch and is completely safe. I would do more research into what materials they are using before making bold claims of pollution. Polylactic Acid has been used on Rep Raps / Makerbots for years now. ABS is not the only plastic that they can print with. So look it up yourself before you spread more FUD.

I don't think PLA naturally biodegrades very quickly. It's normally composted in commercial facilities under very specific environmental conditions.

Do you have facts to back up your claims that ABS plastic subjects these animals to "Harmful residual chemicals"? ABS is listed as an incredibly safe plastic to use, due to a number of factors, not the least of which being a 105C Melting point(Thusly reducing any petrochemical leaching). ABS has an additional interesting property that it will actually burn After melting, as opposed to before(As many other carbon-chain polymers and crystalline substances generally will burn at a much lower temperature than they will melt), which will only occur due to the boiling smoke being released post-melt catching fire itself.

So tell you what, find me a hermit crab that breaks 105C, and we'll talk about safety concerns. Until then, unless you want to openly make a statement that the plastics used in Legos are somehow chemically harmful to life, which could open you to lawsuits involving Libel and Defamation of Character, as well as potentially put you under criminal scrutiny for false claims, I suggest you recant your statement.

Ok, so the Hermit crabs are threatened - we must save them! Private conservation in the pet trade aside - this is an ECOLOGICAL issue that can't be solved by dumping a bunch of plastic in the ocean. IF, however, you were to dump a bunch of meth amphetamine into the ocean, the hermit crabs could fight for new shells with all the strength and veracity of a human meth-head. Even better yet, methamphetamine decomposes pretty damn naturally. If we were to dump, say, 5000KG of meth into all the major hermit crab spawning areas, it would probably take care of this potentially catastrophic issue with even greater forthought and planning than the plastic shell idea, and leave no residual waste (aside from the many, many animal carcases that died trying to fuck jellyfish or scratching through their own shells, but that goes without saying).

Who? For starters hermit crabs followed closely by anyone who knows the first thing about hermit crabs.

What got all of you people so rabid? These comments are so senselessly vitriolic that I'm forced to wonder if there is another reason you're all so upset.

Why don't we just eat all the other crabs without homes?

Maybe we could print bigger ones and scatter 'em through parks in big cities so the local hobos can have wearable shelters. Either way, there's a good chance there'll still be crabs inside.

Also they also could do glass shells. Source: http://www.glassshell.com/

hmmm Let's see, a plastic shotgun shell is built like a short, straight tube while the plastic shell the designer plans will be nearly identical in size and shape to what hermits require to hold reserve water to keep their gills hydrated, safeguard delicate abdomens and protect themselves from predators. Yeah, I could see how that would puzzle you. Sheesh, think much?

All of the comments are stupid.

1. Consult with a hermit crab to find out if there is a real shortage of shells for hermit crabs to use.

Tip: There is. Source: I'm a hermit crab

2. Consult with the EPA to see if dumping plastic into the ocean is permitted and safe for the environment.

Tip: I don't care. I am a hermit crab.

This is the most awesome thing anyone has ever come up with, and is probably the single most incredible publicity attempt for Makerbot.

I don't think this is a bad idea. Yes, I am a little on edge about using plastic, but until they find a better medium this is the only thing they have to resort to. Not all plastics will leach toxic chemicals. They can't really do anything biodegradable because it would break down as the crab is wearing it. I keep hearing that these will be dumped in the ocean. Not necessarily true. These are "LAND HERMIT CRABS" that are being tested. Some crabs live as far as a hundred miles in land from the sea. Ecuadorians will probably stay closer to the salt water source, but Caribbeans will usually return once a year and that is typically to mate. Yes, different types of shells will have to be designed for the crabs because not all species of hermit crabs have the same shaped abdomen. For example Ecuadorian hermit crabs have a short narrow tail, so they would most likely prefer a shell that has a D or elliptical opening. Purple Pinchers (Caribbean) have a longer rounder abdomen so they usually go for a round opening. You should spaz out until you know the results. I don't see a real harm of trying this. In fact, I second it.