Rat killed cage mate

Question
First off I need to say that your site is very helpful! This story dates back a few years but it has been haunting me and when I stumbled upon this site I felt maybe you could help me. I came into rat ownership accidently in High school when some people decided to let rats free in the stairwell as a prank. Most didn't survive and the 2 that did went to the science lab where they were tormented by some very mean people. I volunteered to bring the now 1 survivor home, but he was very traumatized. After much, much, much love he came around and was extremely affectionate and loyal. Nicademus was a huge male, with lots of attention but seemed lonely. I purchased a baby male hooded rat and gradually introduced him to the then about 2yr old Nick. They bonded well and lived another 2 yrs together until I came home one day and found that Sam (the now grown baby) had killed Nicademus. He ripped his chest open and there were bloody pawprints all over the stage which seemed to prove that Nick had tried to escape his attacker. Sam was very aggressive after this and led the rest of his days as a solitary rat who was unable to be handled much if at all. i appreciate any info you could give me as I would like 2 again have males but that experience has scarred me.

Answer
What you have witnessed isnt what you think.  When a rat dies (and honestly your Nick was OLD, 2 is a good age for a rat to live to!!)any other rats will try and clean up the body. This obviously came from instinct as a rotting corpse would attract predators. Rats will often try ands eat/move/drag/bury the body of a cage mate.

Trust me, this is what has happened.

We have 9 boys living together. We have 16 rats all in, and I have been keeping rats for over 10 years.

You should get two males, as you have got this scene all wrong.

:-)

Oh and as for the newer rat and the non handling after Nicks death. They had been together a LONG time in rat years and Im sure he was never the same after the death of his cage mate.  They rarely are.