Most redear mature in the second year of life. When very young they feed exclusively on zooplankton. Redear are schooling fish that has a preference for large quite waters. Redear eat snails, crustaceans, and small fish, but don't eat small fish as readily as most sunfish. The redear does not reproduce as quickly bluegills and, therefore, is not likely to overpopulate small ponds.
Overpopulation causes the fish to grow very slowly.