i have mine in a tank with a lmb, fl gar, bullhead, and a few pumpkin seeds. he can be aggressive twards the pumpkin seeds but nothing to malicious. just kinds chases them out of his area and that is that. never even makes contact with them. that being said, he will stand his ground with my lmb. he has even chased my lmb a time or two. as far as feeding mine will pretty much eat anything. if you only offer them the pellets for a day or two, they will get hungry enough and take them. that is what mine did. i had been feeding them worms and i ran out the night before and forgot to get more that day. when i went to feed the shiners that were in the tank for feeders for the other fish some regular flakes, the blugill started eating them too. i have several really small ones that i am growing out that eat flakes as well.