Nibbling is normal. They use their mouth to feel things. They are being curious. If its not a vicious bite, then why stop them? This is a natural behavior for all rats, even tame pets.
And do not flick them. They won't be so nice if you do that.... Counter productive in what you're trying to do.
As for holding, support the body from underneath them and hold against your chest/body in an unrestricted hold so they feel secure.
If they're really flighty, hold them in your lap first. And honestly, some unsocial adults just never want to be held. This is where you tame some babies and socialize them daily so you can hold them back.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2