I tried to hold it with the tongs. It was squirming and all right in front of him; he just curled up. What do you recommend I do with the mouse until 5-7 days? Leaving it in there puts him at risk, does it not?

His cage is 32" x 15" x 15". Two hides at either end, one in the middle; a live plant more to the right of the middle. Large, shallow water container to the left, under the heat lamp. Cage is made of wood with two hinged doors with glass windows.