My male rat

Question
I have three female rats and one male rat they are all about 7 to 8 months old. I got them from at pet store I was working at that sold feeder rats, which later caused me to quit, I can NOT be around such a thing. I was using care fresh bedding but recently changed to yesterday's news, Willy who is my male not neutered, recently started getting scabs all over his chin, neck and back on his head and seems very itchy. Could this be do the the bedding change? the girls (Camellia, Chanel and Hillary) don't have them, they are caged separately form Willy. Willy is in a three level wire cage. Also I feed them food called Tropical Carnival made by Brown's. Could this be causing it? they have been eating this for about 4 or 5 months. They also get dark breads and natural fish bits, nuts, fresh fruit and veggies. I have mice that I rescued from the store as well that are also on yesterday's news and they are fine. Please help my baby boy!

Answer
Kudos to you for standing up for what you believe in, even at an employment loss!

I'm thinking its a coincidence that you changed his bedding, and I doubt that its your food (which sounds like a decent diet; although I'd add some lab/pet block in just to make it a bit more complete) -- however; due to his recent neuter, his immune system is *probably* down and he may have been just a walking rug for any mites you possibly brought in on the bedding or on your clothing. It happens.. I've had one rat in a cage be totally infested with mites simply because he or she had a less-enthusiastic immune system and they were attracted to him. Get him on some ivermectrin and I can almost bet you he'll be loads better within a week or so :) I'd be on the safe side and also treat your girls -- generally if one animal in the family has it, its safe to assume they all do, and being cautious won't hurt them.