Looking for advice from "the experts"

[wilomn]

I forgot to mention that pet stores (just like you) do not want large rats. Time will be working against you here.

Hmmmm, out here they want the big ones more than the little ones. They just don't want to pay what it costs to get them big.

Rats don't do well alone, so get 2. 2 females, 2 males, one of each, makes no difference to the rats, but they like company.

You can freeze any you don't need to feed and have a nice store for rainy days.