Smell... One warm summer eve the wind carried the smell of the ocean and the nice warm breeze flowed
right over the top of the box that my pet lives in. My pet didn't get to experience the lovely scent in the air because the
breeze flowed right over the top of his bin. When I finished enjoying the nice breeze I went over to visit Pierre in his plastic
box. I noticed he made a BOOM BOOM. Thankfully I was there to clean it immediately because with no airflow and no fingers
that poor Pierre could use to hold his nose closed, he would have had to suffer until I finally noticed it. (Okay,
I can't believe I just typed that but I am sure it is something you won't forget!) Yes, that may have sounded
juvenile but it is pretty juvenile not to understand why any living being should be made to live out its life this way. At
least in a cage there is airflow!
Temperature…It is harder to monitor and control temperature in an enclosed space. Without a breeze
or airflow the air gets trapped and the temperature can fluctuate even in an enclosed box that is only 18 inches tall. Just
think about getting in and out of a car on a cold or hot day. Without windows open you will certainly feel the difference
in a very short time. That is why when it is so muggy outside we open windows! Let the air, flow!
Humidity… When warm air is trapped and moisture is present it creates humidity. Humidity creates
the perfect environment for molds, fungus, yeast, bacteria and viruses to grow and multiply. In most cases it only takes a
very short time for this to happen and when these bacteria multiply they can have a devastating affect on your pet’s
health. Certain molds, fungus, yeast, bacteria and viruses can also affect the health of humans. Think petri dish! Let the
air, flow!
Even though a lot of breeders still promote the use of bins it is not a practice I would endorse. I
can not begin to speak on behalf of other breeders or explain why they feel that this is okay, when it is NOT. My guess is
that a few breeders started recommending that people spend less in the department store so they could spend more with the
breeder. This practice caught on quickly! Some breeders will even go so far to try and instill fear into the buyer by telling
them that bins are safer. I can say that in 30 years not once has one of my animals become injured as a direct result of living
in a cage.
If you make modifications to a bin simply by removing one or two of the sides and replacing them with
wire mesh it will allow better airflow.
If you want to keep small critters such as mice and gerbils in an aquarium equipped with climbing platforms
and a tank topper then the animal can choose when to spend his time in the open air.
No animal deserves to be condemned to live for 4 - 5 years in a box! Not even a box turtle!