he’s still recoiled like he’s ready to strike

does that mean if I go for him he will bite?

The most important is DO NOT give up, mice for some reason are not as easy as rats and ASF.

When I started it took me a good while to be successful at it, I had to try different things and see what was working for me.

Harem did not work, I am one of the rare mice breeder that rotates the males.

As far as setup goes security is crucial with mice they are very skittish very prone to stress and of course this translate into cannibalism.

Mice from pet stores are just terrible they are nippy, VERY skittish due to improper housing and definitely more likely to cannibalize their youngs. The good new it gets better with the first generation.

I started of with 1.2 I was not lucky they did not breed so I got another male and they than started breeding.

I kept all the females to raise them up to breeding size as well as 2 males to have a 2.12 colony once they were ready to breed I got rid of my original group from the pet store.

I house them in a rack which was really cheap to make here is the DIY.

http://stewartreptiles.com/Articles/Mice_Breeding_Rack.pdf

Dark low tubs = security which is a must.

You don’t want to over-crowd either so 2 females in those tubs is just perfect even when they have their babies (once the babies are 4 weeks old they go in a bigger holding tubs).

I keep 2 females in each tubs (sibling or tub mates that grew up together)

I have 2 males that rotates in 3 tubs each as followed spending 2 weeks at the time in each tub.

As far as diet I use Mazuri and dog food (3/4 of mazuri ¼ of dog food)

I use Equine fresh for bedding to reduce odors, I also use vanilla extract.

I average 12 to 17 babies per litter.

and he’s in his box (seperate from his cage)

we’re feeding our snake and he’s eaten 3 fully grown mice and he’s in his box (seperate from his cage)

does that mean if I go for him he will bite?