Rescued feeder rat

Question
Hello,

My fiance and I have a beautiful red tail boa, Sheeva. Recently, a neighbor who is less educated on snake handling gave us a a large white rat to feed to Sheeva. My fiance took it, but I told him under no circumstances was he going to feed that rat to our snake. I'm a vegetarian and I know how it goes in the wild, but our snake eats only frozen, period. Its safer for her and I don't have to watch the killing or an animal. He said he was going to let the animal free, but I told him that would be unfair to the rat, it having been bred in captivity. Finally,  he talked me into keeping it as a pet( which was waay better than returning it to the neighbor for it to meet its doom). So my question is this, is it okay for us to keep this rat as a pet? What are somethings we might need to know about raising a feeder as a pet instead? How much room do they need and how much food daily?
             Thanks a ton!!!

Answer
Most pet rats ARE feeder rats.  I am SO glad you feed your beautiful boa humanely killed frozen rodents and  KUDOS to you for knowing the dangers to the snake that a terrified rat can do to the snake should the snake decline feeding.  I have seen snakes die terrible deaths from sepsis and nasty wounds from rats.  


Anyhow,just think of this rat as a pet rat. Dont worry its a feeder rat. I have had many feeders and the story is this:

Unless you buy rats from hobby breeders, the pet rats sold in stores that sell feeders were from feeder breeders.  They select the more interesting colors and patterns from the feeder stock and sell them as pets. Thats the scoop.

Check out my website, sandyscrittercity.com for all the info you need on  raising your new rat.  

You have a friend for the next few years.  Get ready!!  :)