Early signs of aggression?

[Shadoozy]

Can anyone give me an idea of what signs of aggression I should be
looking for in my young male rats? I know the aggression doesn't
present itself until they are about 6-8 months of age. My boys are
currently ranging in ages from 2.5 months to (poss.) 6 months and they
seem to be pretty docile for the most part. Of course they have
varying personalities and some are more active and playful than the
others, but are wrestling and fearlessness early signs of aggression?
What kind of behavior should I be looking out for? I haven't gotten
much help from google, so any thoughts are appreciated.

Also, I've heard neutering alters the personality . . .  would it likely change an affectionate rat from being affectionate?  I have one boy in particular that loves to cuddle and kiss and I'd be afraid he'd lose that personality if I were to get him snipped. 

[JR1030]

Wrestling is normal baby behavior...I wouldn't be so worried about aggressiveness just yet.  Is there a reason you think they're going to turn aggressive?

[Shadoozy]

I just hear horror stories about male rats drawing blood and fighting to the death or beginning to attack their owners out of nowhere, and I'd like to nip that in the bud if there's any way I can without having to neuter them *all*.  Does it make a difference how well their are socialized or if they have grown up together from infancy?

[JR1030]

Cripes.  Yeah, people do tend to spread rumors about that stuff.  Even one of my vets told me that male rats can't live together.  (Tell that to my 6 boys!)  Have you also heard that if they eat meat, they'll get bloodthirsty?  It's a load of...well, you know.  There are times when a rat will have some hormonal surges around 8 months old or so that can cause some aggression.  In that instance, a neuter can help greatly.  I don't think you need to think about neutering them all.  You can cross that bridge when you get to it.  It would be VERY rare for a rat to turn aggressive out of nowhere and suddenly kill the other rats - and in a case like that, I would suspect a medical problem rather than a personality problem.  I've had two out of my 11 total boys neutered for aggression.  It will NOT make them less sweet...if anything, it will make them more sweet and affectionate.

[Shadoozy]

Thank you, that sets my mind at rest.  I've never had boys before and am just afraid of coming home one day and finding one male having killed the other two or something horrible like that.  They are all pretty tame and only two of them seem to wrestle together at all, so I'm hoping they'll just stay that way.  Keeping my fingers crossed!  Otherwise, it's nice to know it's not something that needs to be dealt with right away.