Layna the link I think you're looking for as far as the food question is this one.....

http://www.ratnutrition.com/suppleme...forbiddenfoods

I like to buddy breed my female rats so I always put at least 2 in with 1 male. That way I have those females cycling together, delivering pretty close to each other, resting together. I make sure they get along (some females can really pick on others). That way if one female has a huge litter I can foster some to the other female or in the rare instance a female rat rejects or can't nurse her young, the other female can do the job.

I also find the males are less aggressive breeders if they have more than one female in with them. If they have only one female to mate some males can get very ummmm "bothersome" with her and a fight can break out.