Qian Hu The Qian Hu Corporation Limited in Singapore is well known to those engaging in arowanas import-export business. Mr. Yap Kim Choon with an elegant and friendly manner of speaking is the owner of this Arowana breeding farm. He has experiences for more than 20 years in the Arowana study. So, for those who are interested in or are eager to know further more about the historical development in the Arowana, it would be a good idea to visit Mr. Yap. Mr. Yap is an amazingly excellent expert in the Arowana. He has been adhering to his policy "Never give up, Persist in research" from the very beginning and is pretty optimistic about the Arowana promotion. Mr.Yap is never fed up with the promotion and an international marketing in the Singapore Arowana breeding industry and furthermore he has contributed all his life to and has invested a large amount of capitals in it. In Singapore Mr. Yap Kim Choon is a highly respected, being as well both an expert and an operator as God Father Degree in the Arowana industry. Undoubtedly, Qian Hu Corporation Limited has become the most popular and the most admirable Arowana breeding farm.

In the Arowana breeding farm of Qian Hu Corporation Limited, there are more than 20 outdoor breeding ponds. The quantity of the Arowana remains 2000 or so. The management of the outdoor breeding ponds is upgraded from the type practiced in the breeding farms of Indonesia and Malaysia Owning to limited land, the fish pond appears smaller. As regards the water, Mr. Yap's breeding farm collects rainwater via giant fish-ponds. And then, they use some reservoirs to store the water. The outdoor fish-ponds collect and use directly natural rain. The outdoor breeding ponds all measure 30m X 100m X 6m (water depth). The quantity of the parent arowanas is 20-30 per pond. They grow natural water plants in the breeding ponds. Mr. Yap would add a few aquatic plants and set artificial implements to the outdoor ponds. In the future, Mr.Yap will make effort to boost the density of the parent arowanas and is considering to build filter appliances (depend on the condition in actuality). The water in outdoor ponds is changed once every 2~3 months. They would harvest the young fry of the Arowana when changing water. They clean the ponds every three months. It includes the bottom of the ponds. Afterwards, exposing the ponds to the sun for 1~2 weeks. In summertime, Mr. Yap will adjust feeding times to control the water quality (means do not feed too much ).
Qian Hu Referring to the breeding period and the breeding technique, there are two kinds of breeding ponds: cross-breeding ponds and pure-breeding ponds. In Singapore, a breeding season usually begins from September to next year March, however, spawning occurs sometimes at non breeding seasons. Spawning occurs 2 ~ 3 times approximately in breeding ponds annually. The parent arowana in good condition will spawn annually 3~4 times. Spawning occurs only once annually in natural environment. In the breeding farms of Qian Hu Corporation Limited, the well known varieties includes the Violet Fusion Red Arowana (generated from the excellent Red Arowana Grade 1, a kind of Blood Red Arowana), the Electric Blue Cross Back Arowana (generated from the selected Blue Base Xback, a new variety cross bred from Violet Fusion Red Arowana and Crossed Back Golden Arowana). Currently the generation is bred to F3 with three kind of body base coloration - the undue red, the undue golden, and the half red, half golden. Compared to the F1 generation with many kind of coloration, this seems much better. From now on, only the undue red and undue golden individuals will be kept for pure breeding. Furthermore, breeding of the Red Tailed Golden Arowana begins as well.

As for feeding, there are no enough natural feeds (frogs and little fish) from the natural environment in Singapore. Accordingly, Mr. Yap uses the human raised frogs and little fish (purchased from Malaysia) with a little bit of meat (beef, pork, chicken) for Arowana feeding. By doing this, we can attain the objective of diverse feeding without difficulty. Referring to the disposal of feeding, Mr. Yap would raise them for several days and disinfect to prevent the disease.

Qian Hu Upon the future prospects, Mr. Yap has engaged in utilizing the gene engineering for the breeding and selection of arowana strains. The first target is Red Splendour Cross Back Arowana and Crossed Back Golden Arowana. It would require so many confirmations to find out a complete DNA mark. There is a more stabilization of hereditary genes in F2 or F3 generation. Therefore, it would take 2~3 years to get all information of DNA mark about the Arowana gene. It is widely believed that the Arowana strains in Singapore are going to be more and more diverse. Their beautiful coloration will win the customers?hearts.

Mr. Yap has being cooperating with the National Singapore Universities in finding the complete DNA mark of arowana. They try to build the DNA mark of each pair of parent Arowana through the scales coloration of each young fry. They started it form the male arowanas due to the incubation is the male Arowana? job; moreover, the quantity of the male is usually enormous. Next, they compare and check all genes of the young fish bred from each pair of parent fish and make selection in order to stabilize and to find the best ones. The next step is the constant selection and breeding for the superior individuals. At the same time, the breeding research of purebred strains and cross bred strains will keep going. The Cross Back Golden Arowana has two type of body base coloration: the golden base and the blue base. Mr. Yap believe that they can adopt the gene engineering to breed more perfect and more popular purebred strains of arowana. The quantity of arowana produced in Singapore is less than the other countries' in the South Asia. Hereafter their competitiveness will base upon the high quality assurance. In Singapore, the raising of Arowana has become more popular for many years and the market has the trend of fineness and quality. In the future, the high quality is the best standard of the arowana breeding industry in Singapore.

Qian Hu In the breeding farm of Qian Hu Corporation Limited, the management of the indoor fish ponds is some kind similar to that in Indonesia and in Malaysia. But, Mr. Yap would like to adopt a few filter appliances. Before making use of, the rainwater should be filtered and stored in the reservoirs. For the cross breeding ponds, water will be changed one third of the volume daily. Upper filter appliances applied on single fish. Water will be changed one tenth of the volume weekly. The filtration systems are the side and upper filters. He also adopts the semiautomatic method to manage the indoor fish tanks and ponds. If applying a fully automatic system, many unpredictable and risky troubles might occur. Mr. Yap raises all the young fries in the indoor ponds and tanks. When they are sold out, they won? have troubles in adapting themselves to the environment. Regarding the exporting business, the merchandises from Taiwan and Japan chiefly want the young fry. The sub-adult arowanas is the first choice of the buyers in China.

Mr. Yap has another indoor exhibition field still under construction. It measures 30ft X 80ft. with 300 fish tanks approximately (in the future, it will be up to 400-500 ones, or there will be another breeding farm). They include a fish tank measuring 9ft X 3ft X 3ft. for breeding the sub adults. Two more breeding tanks will be built in this indoor fish field for the research of the harvest methods. The harvest won? be taken until the young fries grow up a little. For the young fries harvested in the outdoor ponds, there is a great difference in their body size. Sometimes an artificial incubation is needed. The research of artificial breeding has been going for more than one year. The initial achievement has attained for the moment. Some 2~ 3 years later will come out a formal research result. Such a person like Mr. Yap always taking different trials, being dauntless and confident will be a good example to follow for the Arowana breeders in Singapore. He will be a perfect guide for those interested in the Arowana breeding industry. We also believe that, with the efforts taken by Mr. Yap, the Singapore Arowana breeding industry will have a good future and development in the international market.

DNA Inspection and Fries Harvesting

Qian Hu
Take a shot of each Arowana and make a positive identification when proceeding to DNA work becomes important. The paper card in the illustration is a pairing list for the Arowana. Scales act to make DNA analysis in harvesting. This facilitates us to have the knowledge about the source of the young Arowana. Either Record keeping or constant observation about the growing development of the young Arowana will be easily accessible to their singular pedigree. And which kind of pairing would produce the superior individual? According to Mr. Yeh Chi-Chun, since the yellow, the black, the blue, the red pigments existing in the crystalline lens of the scales are changing all the time during the growing period of the Arowana, the coloration at each phase is different. Consequently, DNA employing for quality examining and controlling for the filial generation becomes significantly important. This is deemed as a high-tech unprecedented undertaking biologically in the Arowana breeding industry.

Qian Hu
對於從事龍魚進出口貿易的人而言，新加坡的仟湖魚業集團想必是大家耳熟能詳的地方。而生性平易近人且談吐風雅又喜歡廣結善緣的阿春哥，則是這個龍魚繁殖場的負責人。和一般龍魚繁殖場不同的是，阿春哥對龍魚的研究已經有二十幾年的經驗。如果有興趣或是想要深入了解新加坡龍魚發展史的人，來新加坡造訪這位重量級的阿春哥是準沒錯的了。阿春哥不僅是位相當專業的龍魚專家，在訪談之間還不時的可以感受到阿春哥對新加坡龍魚發展上所具備的奮戰不懈，以及永續研究的精神，同時對龍魚的推廣是相當寄予厚望的，而這是此次採訪最令人相當印象深刻的事情。在對新加坡龍魚繁殖的國際貿易及推廣上，阿春哥更是不遺餘力，在產、官、學各方面，仟湖魚業集團可說是投下了大量的精神與資金。所以，阿春哥在新加坡可以說是龍魚的教父級人物之一，也是備受尊崇專業的龍魚業者，相信仟湖魚業集團應是當仁不讓且令人由衷佩服的龍魚繁殖場。

在仟湖魚業集團的龍魚繁殖場中，目前擁有的室外繁殖池有20多個，而且其龍魚的數量大大小小隨時加起來都有將近兩千尾的數量。在室外魚池的管理方式上，阿春哥的管理方式和印尼與馬來西亞是有些相似但改良過的，但由於土地受限，魚池面積會比較小一點。另外，在魚場內外的用水之方面，阿春哥繁殖場是靠極大型的魚池來收集雨水。然後，再利用其它儲水槽蓄水，而室外魚池則是直接的採集天然雨水。室外池的規格上，其繁殖池都是30呎X100呎X6呎（水深），而且，每池的種魚數量為20至30尾。另外，在繁殖池內，阿春哥會栽植水草讓其自然繁衍，並且，在放養種魚之前也會先做水色（以綠藻為主），讓其產生天然的藻類，目前在室外池中，阿春哥會加入一些天然的水生植物與簡易的人工的設備。然而，未來阿春哥會朝向提高種魚密度的方向努力，同時，屆時也會架設過濾設備（但要視當時狀況做判斷）。在管理上，阿春哥在室外池的部分是每2至3個月換水一次，而在換水的同時也會採集龍魚的魚苗。而且，每三個月就會清池一次，並同時清洗池底，爾後曝曬1至2星期。在夏季的時候，阿春哥還會以控制食量的方式來控制繁殖池的水質。

Qian Hu 至於繁殖期及繁殖的方法，阿春哥表示，繁殖池分2種：有混種的魚池及純系的繁殖魚池（同時也有強制配對池）。而在新加坡龍魚正常的繁殖期是每年的9月至隔年的3月，但也有在非繁殖期生產的情形會發生。每年繁殖池大約可正常的繁殖2到3次，狀況好的配對種魚會有每年3到4次，而在大自然環境中則是季節性一年才會生乙次。

在龍魚的魚種方面，阿春哥目前在仟湖魚業集團的龍魚繁殖場中所擁有的，且較為知名的系統有紫豔紅龍（Violet Fusion Red Arowana；種魚為極品的1號紅龍，即血紅龍之一種）、靛藍過背金龍（Electric Blue Cross Back Arowana；種魚是精心篩選過的藍底過背金龍（blue base Xback）也就是紫豔紅龍與過被金龍雄魚所交叉培育的魚種，為較新品系的龍魚），目前已經繁殖到F3，會出現偏紅、偏金及紅、金各半的個體。這比F1出現多種顏色的情形會好很多，而未來會只保留偏紅及偏金的做純系的培育。另外，仟湖魚業集團繁殖場中的紅尾金龍也已經開始繁殖了。

Qian Hu 然而有關飼養龍魚的方法，阿春哥以新加坡的天然環境和印尼做比較，由於他們天然的餌食（青蛙及小魚）為數眾多，而新加坡本身沒有這種條件，所以，在餌料的選擇上，阿春哥基本上是以人工飼育的青蛙及小魚（購自馬來西亞）為主，但成本較高，所以，還會添加少許的肉類（牛肉、豬肉、雞肉也行）作為龍魚的飼料，如此一來，也可達到多元化餵食之目的。但是，在餵食餌料的處理方法上，阿春哥會先行飼養數日，並同時作消毒處理，以避免產生疾病。

另外，關於仟湖魚業集團未來的展望，阿春哥目前已在進行利用基因工程來育種與選種的工作，而且是以彤豔、過背金龍等藍底為主的育種為開端。因為需要經過多次確認做到完整的基因圖庫（DNA mark）後才做確認的動作，再來F2到F3才能更加穩定其遺傳的基因。所以，要再經過2至3年，才能將所有龍魚系統的基因（DNA）的圖庫資料完成。相信未來新加坡的龍魚的系統將會越來越多樣化，而體色表現度也會越來越漂亮，而且也會更加受到消費者喜愛。

目前，阿春哥已經和新加坡國立大學合作，其方法是利用每尾幼魚的鱗片製作完整的基因資料庫（DNA），先行建立每對種魚的基因資料庫（須先從雄魚做起，因為與其交配的母魚暫時無法確認，這是因為龍魚是由雄魚負責口孵的緣故，且池中的雌雄個體又多的關係），然後再比對每對種魚其繁殖出來所有幼魚的基因，然後再做篩選育種的工作，以穩定並挑選出最優良的系統。接著，就是不斷的將最優良的個體做篩選及育種的工作，同時用純系與交叉繁殖（一部份，如彤豔金龍即是）培養的方法做同步的研究。而阿春哥認為，以過背金龍為例，其體色分為金底和藍底，而將其最漂亮的個體做到更完美就需要利用基因工程，才能繁殖出最受消費者喜愛的個體與系統。這是因為在數量上新加坡雖然不能和南亞其他國家做比較，但是希望以質量作為競爭的優勢。因為龍魚的飼養風氣已行之多年，也有越來越精緻的趨向，所以，未來新加坡將以品質作為市場的區隔的方法。

Qian Hu 而在室內魚場及繁殖上的補充部份，阿春哥認為在室內魚池的管理方式和印尼及馬來西亞有些類似，但是，仟湖魚業集團會使用一些過濾設備（也就是天然雨水經由儲水及過濾後再使用，其中，混養池是每天換水三分之一，單尾魚的是使用上部過濾器，每星期換水10％。同時，阿春哥魚場的過濾系統則是採用側面及上部的過濾系統。並且採行半自動的方式來管理室內的魚池及魚缸，這是因為全自動化的問題可能會很多，而且無法預期，所以風險會很大之故。其次，因為阿春哥會將幼魚都飼養在室內，所以，在銷售的時候就比較沒有適應上的問題。而在出口方面，台灣及日本是以小魚居多；而起步中的中國大陸則是以中等體型的龍魚居多。

另外，阿春哥還有另一個室內的展示魚場正在規劃與進行之中，在這個即將完成的室內魚場中，其面積為30呎X80呎，而魚缸總數約300個左右（未來希望達到400至500個，或是再投資一個繁殖場）。其中還涵蓋了9呎X3呎X3呎的魚缸，這是做為培育中型魚用的。當然，這座室內魚場還會架設2個繁殖缸，以作為不同繁殖方法來作為最新嘗試的研究之用，這是要研究不同的採收方式。所以，會等幼魚稍大一些再採收。因為在室外池採收幼魚時，其幼龍的大小差異會很大，有時還需人工孵化及飼育之故。至於人工催生與繁殖的研究則是正在進行之中，且已經研究了1年以上的時間。截至目前為止已有初步的成果，大約2到3年就會有正式的研究結果。像阿春哥這種多方面嘗試，且大膽嘗試的作為，相信是除了新加坡龍魚繁殖場可以奉為學習的對象外，也是全世界想要從事龍魚繁殖者可以學習的指導方向。而相信在阿春哥的努力之下，新加坡的龍魚繁殖要開創出國際貿易的新局，且要發揚光大新加坡龍魚的推廣工作絕對是指日可待的。

龍魚DNA檢測與仔魚採集

Qian Hu
做DNA檢測的同時將每隻龍魚拍照驗明正身是很重要的工作。圖中所見紙卡為龍魚的配對單，每次採集都會利用鱗片來做DNA分析，如此一來就可知某批仔龍是由那對所生出，利用紀錄、觀察仔龍的成長過程即可得知誰跟誰生出的子代會有優良個體，據葉金春先生表示，龍魚的成長過程鱗片中水晶體的黃色素、黑色素、藍色素、紅色素等顏色一直在變，所以龍魚在每個階段時期發色皆不同，因此利用DNA檢測子代的品質與品管就變得非常重要，這也是當今龍魚繁殖上一大高科技生物學創舉

	The Qian Hu Corporation Limited in Singapore is well known to those engaging in arowanas import-export business. Mr. Yap Kim Choon with an elegant and friendly manner of speaking is the owner of this Arowana breeding farm. He has experiences for more than 20 years in the Arowana study. So, for those who are interested in or are eager to know further more about the historical development in the Arowana, it would be a good idea to visit Mr. Yap. Mr. Yap is an amazingly excellent expert in the Arowana. He has been adhering to his policy "Never give up, Persist in research" from the very beginning and is pretty optimistic about the Arowana promotion. Mr.Yap is never fed up with the promotion and an international marketing in the Singapore Arowana breeding industry and furthermore he has contributed all his life to and has invested a large amount of capitals in it. In Singapore Mr. Yap Kim Choon is a highly respected, being as well both an expert and an operator as God Father Degree in the Arowana industry. Undoubtedly, Qian Hu Corporation Limited has become the most popular and the most admirable Arowana breeding farm. In the Arowana breeding farm of Qian Hu Corporation Limited, there are more than 20 outdoor breeding ponds. The quantity of the Arowana remains 2000 or so. The management of the outdoor breeding ponds is upgraded from the type practiced in the breeding farms of Indonesia and Malaysia Owning to limited land, the fish pond appears smaller. As regards the water, Mr. Yap's breeding farm collects rainwater via giant fish-ponds. And then, they use some reservoirs to store the water. The outdoor fish-ponds collect and use directly natural rain. The outdoor breeding ponds all measure 30m X 100m X 6m (water depth). The quantity of the parent arowanas is 20-30 per pond. They grow natural water plants in the breeding ponds. Mr. Yap would add a few aquatic plants and set artificial implements to the outdoor ponds. In the future, Mr.Yap will make effort to boost the density of the parent arowanas and is considering to build filter appliances (depend on the condition in actuality). The water in outdoor ponds is changed once every 2~3 months. They would harvest the young fry of the Arowana when changing water. They clean the ponds every three months. It includes the bottom of the ponds. Afterwards, exposing the ponds to the sun for 1~2 weeks. In summertime, Mr. Yap will adjust feeding times to control the water quality (means do not feed too much ). Referring to the breeding period and the breeding technique, there are two kinds of breeding ponds: cross-breeding ponds and pure-breeding ponds. In Singapore, a breeding season usually begins from September to next year March, however, spawning occurs sometimes at non breeding seasons. Spawning occurs 2 ~ 3 times approximately in breeding ponds annually. The parent arowana in good condition will spawn annually 3~4 times. Spawning occurs only once annually in natural environment. In the breeding farms of Qian Hu Corporation Limited, the well known varieties includes the Violet Fusion Red Arowana (generated from the excellent Red Arowana Grade 1, a kind of Blood Red Arowana), the Electric Blue Cross Back Arowana (generated from the selected Blue Base Xback, a new variety cross bred from Violet Fusion Red Arowana and Crossed Back Golden Arowana). Currently the generation is bred to F3 with three kind of body base coloration - the undue red, the undue golden, and the half red, half golden. Compared to the F1 generation with many kind of coloration, this seems much better. From now on, only the undue red and undue golden individuals will be kept for pure breeding. Furthermore, breeding of the Red Tailed Golden Arowana begins as well. As for feeding, there are no enough natural feeds (frogs and little fish) from the natural environment in Singapore. Accordingly, Mr. Yap uses the human raised frogs and little fish (purchased from Malaysia) with a little bit of meat (beef, pork, chicken) for Arowana feeding. By doing this, we can attain the objective of diverse feeding without difficulty. Referring to the disposal of feeding, Mr. Yap would raise them for several days and disinfect to prevent the disease. Upon the future prospects, Mr. Yap has engaged in utilizing the gene engineering for the breeding and selection of arowana strains. The first target is Red Splendour Cross Back Arowana and Crossed Back Golden Arowana. It would require so many confirmations to find out a complete DNA mark. There is a more stabilization of hereditary genes in F2 or F3 generation. Therefore, it would take 2~3 years to get all information of DNA mark about the Arowana gene. It is widely believed that the Arowana strains in Singapore are going to be more and more diverse. Their beautiful coloration will win the customers?hearts. Mr. Yap has being cooperating with the National Singapore Universities in finding the complete DNA mark of arowana. They try to build the DNA mark of each pair of parent Arowana through the scales coloration of each young fry. They started it form the male arowanas due to the incubation is the male Arowana? job; moreover, the quantity of the male is usually enormous. Next, they compare and check all genes of the young fish bred from each pair of parent fish and make selection in order to stabilize and to find the best ones. The next step is the constant selection and breeding for the superior individuals. At the same time, the breeding research of purebred strains and cross bred strains will keep going. The Cross Back Golden Arowana has two type of body base coloration: the golden base and the blue base. Mr. Yap believe that they can adopt the gene engineering to breed more perfect and more popular purebred strains of arowana. The quantity of arowana produced in Singapore is less than the other countries' in the South Asia. Hereafter their competitiveness will base upon the high quality assurance. In Singapore, the raising of Arowana has become more popular for many years and the market has the trend of fineness and quality. In the future, the high quality is the best standard of the arowana breeding industry in Singapore. In the breeding farm of Qian Hu Corporation Limited, the management of the indoor fish ponds is some kind similar to that in Indonesia and in Malaysia. But, Mr. Yap would like to adopt a few filter appliances. Before making use of, the rainwater should be filtered and stored in the reservoirs. For the cross breeding ponds, water will be changed one third of the volume daily. Upper filter appliances applied on single fish. Water will be changed one tenth of the volume weekly. The filtration systems are the side and upper filters. He also adopts the semiautomatic method to manage the indoor fish tanks and ponds. If applying a fully automatic system, many unpredictable and risky troubles might occur. Mr. Yap raises all the young fries in the indoor ponds and tanks. When they are sold out, they won? have troubles in adapting themselves to the environment. Regarding the exporting business, the merchandises from Taiwan and Japan chiefly want the young fry. The sub-adult arowanas is the first choice of the buyers in China. Mr. Yap has another indoor exhibition field still under construction. It measures 30ft X 80ft. with 300 fish tanks approximately (in the future, it will be up to 400-500 ones, or there will be another breeding farm). They include a fish tank measuring 9ft X 3ft X 3ft. for breeding the sub adults. Two more breeding tanks will be built in this indoor fish field for the research of the harvest methods. The harvest won? be taken until the young fries grow up a little. For the young fries harvested in the outdoor ponds, there is a great difference in their body size. Sometimes an artificial incubation is needed. The research of artificial breeding has been going for more than one year. The initial achievement has attained for the moment. Some 2~ 3 years later will come out a formal research result. Such a person like Mr. Yap always taking different trials, being dauntless and confident will be a good example to follow for the Arowana breeders in Singapore. He will be a perfect guide for those interested in the Arowana breeding industry. We also believe that, with the efforts taken by Mr. Yap, the Singapore Arowana breeding industry will have a good future and development in the international market.

	DNA Inspection and Fries Harvesting
	Take a shot of each Arowana and make a positive identification when proceeding to DNA work becomes important. The paper card in the illustration is a pairing list for the Arowana. Scales act to make DNA analysis in harvesting. This facilitates us to have the knowledge about the source of the young Arowana. Either Record keeping or constant observation about the growing development of the young Arowana will be easily accessible to their singular pedigree. And which kind of pairing would produce the superior individual? According to Mr. Yeh Chi-Chun, since the yellow, the black, the blue, the red pigments existing in the crystalline lens of the scales are changing all the time during the growing period of the Arowana, the coloration at each phase is different. Consequently, DNA employing for quality examining and controlling for the filial generation becomes significantly important. This is deemed as a high-tech unprecedented undertaking biologically in the Arowana breeding industry.