You're in the right place... read, read, read... as much as you can stuff into your head. There is a lot to learn, and it is all here. I have had my rats for almost 2 months... was reading for months before I got my first breeders, and I am still reading and learning. There is just too much for someone to try to convey at once. And there is also a lot that you just have to experience to understand.