Very cool I've seen a few places with small dats and I always think I should get them and when I go back they are gone. lol What did you give for this guy if you don't mind my asking.
Long time man these fish grow like snails. I raised mine from 2 to 3.5 and that took probably almost a year. I sold them to another member at that size not sure how much they have grown since then.
I've had mine about a year (I think??), and he went from 2.5-3" to about 7" now. They're slow growers, but not THAT slow... at least not when they're young. Maybe once they hit 10" they slow down a whole lot more...
Mine eats on live feeders (every once in a while), freeze dried krill, and market shrimp.