3D Printed Clear Hermit Crab Shells Inspired By Famous Architecture

If you or your kids have ever owned a hermit crab, you know that they like to occasionally change shells. When I was a kid, I had a hermit crab that switched shells, but I never got to see what he looked like with no shell at all. I assume when they decide to change; it’s a quick transition. You’d think the world would be full of suitable shell real estate, but apparently it isn’t. Many crabs need to upgrade their hermit crab shells to ones that fit better, or that have less cracks.

These hermit crab shells combine nature, technology and architecture in such a creative way that will surely bring a smile to your face. These are real hermit crab shells that were 3D printed to look like famous architectural wonders. They look like they’d be the hermit crab version of a mansion or a penthouse apartment.

These shells were created by artist Aki Inomata. She made them to offer some very lucky crabs a new home. Each shell was 3D printed in clear plastic, so the hermit crab’s body is visible inside. Aki made these by taking CT scans of existing, abandoned hermit crab shells, which she then changed with CAD software. She then printed them with a rapid prototype system.

It seems as though hermit crabs can adapt to just about anything that resembles a possible new home. About a year ago, we wrote about someone who built a hermit crab shell out of LEGO, and sure enough, a hermit crab chose it as his new home. You can read about that at Hermit Crab Ditches Shell For A LEGO Shell. These hermit crabs below have upgraded into some pretty sweet digs! What a great collection.