Two new rats are terrified?

The best is just let them be, they'll get used to it eventually. They're just a bit startled about the transformation and the move. They're in a new environment and they're probably used to expecting danger and abuse. Just leave them to explore and they'll warm up to you very soon. To speed up the process try hand feeding them they're favorite snacks (inside the cage at first). It may be too soon to be handling them. After about 2-3 days, try hand feeding them outside of the cage. Also, I should warn you; since they were probably meant to be snake food I would suggest taking them to the vet and checking them out for illnesses as feeder rats are not very well cared for or inbred. However, I think it was so great of you to rescue them from their terrible condition in the pet store. Good luck with your two new friends, i'm sure you guys will have great times together!

Well obviously they haven't adjusted to their environment yet. You seem to have a pretty good place for them to live. There's nothing to worry about because many rodents act that way. They will be scared from the tiniest of noises. What you should do is place a lot of treats around the cage like carrots or cheese in various places so they can explore and find them. Be careful to not give them too much though. You can also pick them up in a towel and sit with them. If they get scared, they will most likely bury themselves into the towel. Always make sure they don't try to make a jump. One of the most effective ways are to put one of them on a flat surface and have a treat in your hand and let them eat out of it. If they don't, then place the treat in front of them at an exaggerated manner to let them know that YOU gave them the food. They would surely come back for more. If you repeat these steps a few times, they should begin to get used to you.

Hi these two rats are wild animals they expected to be eaten by a snake or what every reptile so what do you expect to be able to handle them. you will not be able to do that for sometime till they get used to the idea that they are not just dinner for something else. they may not ever be an animal you can handle bred as food for another animal or reptile you will need to see how they are in a few weeks and stop messing them about. think of it this way this great big human keeps coming and looking at them in this cage, if it was you in there you would be frightened and feel threatened although you might be a warm loving human being the rats don't know that. when they have been fed leave them alone as they need time to adjust don't keep poking at them. how would you like to be poked at every five minutes.

it does sound like they've had a bad start in life, and considering that, they're really not doing so very badly. I'll do the ratty geek thing, and point out that aquariums, even with toppers, aren't the best cages for a rats health. it does sound like they will probably come around and become much calmer with time. if you can handle them without them being too stressed, after the way they were treated, they probably have quite resilient little personalities.