Can Pet Mice Live in Plastic Bins?

For pet mice, plastic bins can be just as good as metal wired cages. It is just that there are different things to consider when you buy a plastic container compared to a wired cage. They are basically unclimbable because of their smooth surface.

It is important to choose one that is thick enough so that your pet mouse can’t chew through it. Plastic, glass containers and metal cages are definitely the three most popular options when it comes to keeping mice at home. All of them can make great homes for them if you set them up the right way.

For mice, the container you keep them in should be ventilated and there has to be thick enough bedding in it as well. We are going to share a few more tips below and also answer some questions about keeping mice in plastic bins.

But first, we are going to show you how to make a plastic bin at home.

Plastic Bin for Keeping Mice

How to make a cage: size, food-grade plastic, cleaning, lid, ventilation, etc…

You can make a plastic container for your pet mouse if you want to. The process of making it is simple, you just need to devote some time into making it and buy the parts that are needed. First off, you need to buy a food-grade plastic bin, which is completely safe for mice.

A container of 25-30 gallons is probably the best for mice. The minimum for these rodents is somewhere around 15 gallons. On the long side of your transparent bin, you are going to cut out a large window. It has to be cut high enough so that the bedding can’t come out, which is 3 to 4 inches high.

Don’t worry about its size and shape as you are going to be able to cover it with hardware cloth anyway. This is the next thing you need to buy, as you going to use hardware cloth so that your mice can’t escape through the window. It is basically a roll of wired metal that can be found typically in hardware stores.

Now cut the hardware cloth to be a bit bigger than the window. You can use a plier to bend the wires that are poking out on the edges. The next step is to bring the drill and mark some holes on that plastic bin. While you mark it, hold the wired metal to the cage so that you can see where you want to drill.

Then just slow-drill each mark so that the plastic does not break and you are set. Cover the edges of the plastic first and then attach the hardware cloth from inside. Insert those bolts or nuts into the holes you drilled and your plastic bin is ready.

Can Mice Climb on Plastic?

In some cases, mice can climb walls that are completely vertical. They have a strong grip in their little paws. Moreover, those paws are so little that they can fit in the tiniest of cracks without slipping. However, containers made out of plastic or glass are very smooth.

They are so smooth that even those little paws will slip down every time your pet mouse tries to climb. Therefore, there is no need to worry about your mouse climbing out of a plastic container. It is simply impossible even for them to perform such stunt.

Can Mice Chew Through Plastic?

It depends on the type of plastic the container is made of. Pet mice can chew through a wide range of materials, including plastic. These include paper, cardboard, wood, plastic bottles and such. It often comes down to the thickness of the material whether they can chew through it or not.

For example, plastic bottles and some wooden containers can be rather thin. Mice are often adamant at chewing through these materials because there is usually a reward on the other side. However, there are thousands of different types of plastic available.

Some of them are so hard that there is no animal that can chew through them. There are also others that are toxic when swallowed and pet mice should be kept away from them. For the plastic bins you can buy online and in pet stores, they use safe plastic that leaves no chance for your mouse to get out.

Are Plastic Bin Cages Good for Pet Mice?

Plastic bin cages can be great for mice as long as you make sure there is enough space in it for your pet. Another thing to consider is ventilation, as fresh air is very important for these little rodents. Some of these plastic bins even come with metal wired elements on the side.

These allow for better ventilation while being firmly attached to the side so that your mouse can’t get it off. The constant flow of fresh air is especially important when the bedding is about to get dirty and smelly. On plastic bin cages with closed walls, you can only apply a lid if it is made of wired metal or something similar.

This allows for airflow, although applying a lid is not necessary at all. After all, your pet mouse won’t be able to climb out anyway. Moreover, you really have no choice but to buy a transparent plastic container for your mouse.

This will allow your pet to see what is happening outside and thus not feel as confined to the plastic bin.

Wrapping Up

Plastic bins are not only the ideal homes for mice, but they are also among those things you can easily create at home. If you want to create one, just follow the tips that we shared above and it will be ready in an hour. There are two things that are very important when it comes to plastic bins.

One is proper ventilation and the other is transparency so that the light can get in from outside. There are plenty of high-quality plastic containers in the market, it is up to you which one to choose. Just make sure there will be enough space for your fancy mouse.