awww, sorry to hear that. my hams used to eat apples but it didnt affect them, it could have been the seeds, i think they have some dodgy equipment in them somewhere. ratty heaven will be nice though.
I had rats when I was a kid. Some were very smart and would break out of the cages that my mother kept them in. My uncle carried his rat everywhere and even kept it on his person when he road his motorcycle. The longest I have seen a rat live is 5 years but usually it is 2 or 3 I think.