For how many rats you need:
General rule of thumb is 1 female rat per snake you have. And you can just have whatever males you want. You may have to add or subtract rats accordingly.
Personally, I breed 2 female rats every 2 weeks to give me 2 weeks worth of food. And breeding every 2 weeks gives me a steady supply of the same size feeders when they're up to size.
I don't want to harem breed because that will give me too much food. You just have to try out a system that works for you.
And you can house the male with the females.
Though I did have one freak accident where I had grow outs in my male breeders' tub. I thought all of the grow outs were male. But one turned out female and all the males were taking turns breeding with her. It was the only time I have ever seen the boys not fight over mating rights.
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