I want to start up a small colony, partially to feed my snakes and partially because I think I'd enjoy having rats (although I imagine I'll be leaving my house smelling of rat every day). I've seen the chickenwire feeding boxes that some people keep the food in and I'll be able to figure out how to build that before getting the rats. I have a drill and can easily set up the water bottle. I should have no problems swapping out bedding regularly and keeping them fed on lab blocks. I know they like dark areas and since they'd be in my room with my snakes (my bedroom) and on account of the fact that 5 days of the week I'm out of the house for almost the whole day that won't be a problem. I know they need hides to stay feeling comfortable, and I realize that as creatures with an advanced limbic system they need social interaction. I know that I'd probably try and get them at the reptile show in November. Finally i know that I want to keep only a few (1 male and 2-5 females)

What I don't know is if they can be kept in the same room as the snakes, if you can keep them in a colony (like asfs that I've seen) when breeding or if they need to be separated.

The amount of information on this forum seems too much to sift through, and there don't seem to be any specific care sheets for rats on here, and the stickies don't act in this respect either (we have Should I, How to Save Space, and Colours... but not How To care for/keep them) .

Also a stoner once told me about this activated carbon air filtration system that she claims will get rid of any smells (obviously she was using it for drugs) but I was wondering if anyone here might know if activated carbon can pull the scent of rodent urine out of the air, I was going to make a miniature version of it this weekend but I couldn't find an affordable miniature version (the smallest pieces of ductwork are the size I would want for the full filter, so I cant make a mini version to test it's effect with urine ~_~).