i have 2 bowfin 1 is 15" it eats most of the food i give it. likes smelt the best. will take tilapia sometimes. and occasional beefheart and shrimp. the other 1 i just picked up is around 12" kind of picky so far eating a little shrimp and a few pieces of beefheart. mine are not that finicky though. alway comes to surface to check out what i'm feeding. i usually cut food in strips so i can dangle it in the water. the larger bowfin usually takes the food