I had one grow to about 6 inches within the first year to me it grew very fast in the first 6 months and had girth as well it used to eat meal worms carnivore pellets chopped up raw prawns anything I put in tank it would eat . Did get very aggressive and began to go after my bichirs so sold it. I do have another 2 now in a grow out tank they eat blood worms small meal worms and small earth worms and tiny bits of raw prawn they dont seem to like pelets like my other one did though.