Parkman Bailey: I have kept them on and off for years, they are very hardy and will thrive in water that would kill most other fish, only issue with them is that if they don't think you are feeding them enough you can expect a smaller tank mate or two to go missing overnight. They can be picky on food, mine have never taken to prepared foods, always had to feed a mix of frozen and live.
Mike Stegall: They live in secondary bodies of water that other sunfish can not tolerate, except for Mr. Always happy the green Sunfish! In aquariums I have found them real wimps. The do live in better quality waters. There they breed in early spring and then disappear into the water plants where other fish have trouble finding them.