Questions about caring for Amazon Leaf Fish

[JaretoGringo]

Hello,
I'm a self admitted beginner to aquarium keeping (my experience amounts to a 10 gallon from my preteens that didn't even last a year) and I was looking to jump properly into the hobby. I have a space in mind that can just comfortably accommodate a 30 gallon tank and was looking for a good interesting species to fill it with. I grew up with a friend who kept a carnivorous species in his own tank, and the thrill of seeing a predatory fish feed is something that resonated with me as an angler and guy in general.

After doing some googling and looking around, I settled on an Amazonian Leaf Fish as a potential choice. They're a fascinating species and seem like they'd keep me plenty entertained as I went through the learning process.

However, I also care deeply about being able to properly care for any fish in my possession and would hate to kill such a beautiful specimen out of neglect or ignorance. The main challenge that I seem to see brought up is their ability and need to feed, with most sources saying they need a good 3 feeder minnows a day to keep healthy.
While the cost of such an appetite isn't as much of a concern for me, I wanted to see if anyone who might have experience with these fish could shed some light on what I can expect to go through, or if this species is even right for me.

A few main questions I have, besides any general tips for them, are:

Is there any alternative food sources I could provide should I be unable to buy feeder fish for any reason, such as bloodworms or freeze dried shrimp?

Are these a solitary species, or will I have to be committed to getting a pair/multiple? (This one is important since it obviously helps me understand how much food a day I'm looking at going through)

Would bulk buying feeder fish and keeping a separate smaller tank of them be a smart investment/ more efficient option?

Is a 30 gallon tank going to be sufficient space?

What plants would be ideal for this species? I understand they like lots of cover and I've heard people recommend surface plants to help block light

Thank you in advance for your help!

-Jaret