well what i always say is if you want it get it if you no you probley wont see one that size again i would get it , like i brought a 6"-7" chinese algy eatter hes the biggest one ive ever seen and have never seen anything close to his size so i would go for it if you wont see one again !! ;)
sounds good he will be very strong when you try to net him if he gets over 15"+ trust me lol i found out with my old one stronger then you think anyway. mine will be in a 4ft tank till he gets around 8"-10" then in a 5ft by 4ft by 2ft (4ft wide!) so he should be ok for some years.
sounds good im starting mine off with prawn a floating cichlid pellets (only to save money when hes bigger lol) and then when over 20" long i will get him whole fish and large floating pellets as they arnt that much.