I add fatheads periodically. They get in the real shallow water and in brush. I don't think big bass mess with them but smaller ones do and bluegill get their fry. They seem to spawn and some of them make it thru the year. After 2 1/2 years I still have some along with huge numbers of baby and juvenile bluegill. Actually, I seine them from a 1/4 to 1/3 acre forage pond that is loaded with bluegill. I seine several times a year with no lessening of either bgill or fatheads.