July 22, 2020, 04:44 PM
A video of a Singaporean who keeps many rare prized fishes at home has caught the attention of many worldwide.
The video was uploaded to the CoralFish12g Facebook page on July 21.Within a day, the video received 5,000 reactions.
But a check on CoralFish12g's YouTube channel showed an extended video of the same topic published earlier on June 7, 2020.
It has been viewed 1.3 million times since.
According to the video, the visit to Lim's place took place on Feb. 19, 2020.
Asian arowana breeder as well
The Singaporean featured, Kenny Lim, was previously interviewed by The New York Times in 2018 for his Asian arowana collection.
But it turns out, Lim is a professional breeder of Black Diamond and White Diamond stingrays.
The White Diamond stingrays found internationally come from Lim, as it is his creation as a result of in-line breeding -- a process where the creatures are bred from the same family.
Lim does not actually sell the fishes he keeps in his house, as they belong to him and he treats them as pets.
White Diamond stingrays, he said, have more contrasting colours.
These stingrays are known for their black and white colour and unique donut, circular patterns.
He has several dozen fish tanks in his home, a private property.
The stingrays' fetch high prices on the market: Up to US$20,000 for one, with rare albino ones going for US$18,000.
Those that are not as defined, such as brown ones, cost about US$1,000
Lim also said getting stung by the stingrays is part of the job.
He said he takes painkillers and the pain will go away after one to two days
“In Singapore, if you have an arowana, that means you have status,” Lim told NYT in 2018.
He was referred to as a local hobbyist in that 2018 interview, and revealed to have invested an estimated US$600,000 over eight years into building up his aquatic menagerie, which includes 13 arowana and more than 100 stingrays.
He said back then: “It’s a sign of wealth.”
House with multiple tanks
Lim said he acquired his red arowanas from Indonesia.
The mature red arowana is estimated to be worth US$30,000 now.
He even has a tank fitted under the wooden deck of his property measuring 15 feet by 7 feet.
Stingrays, for the uninitiated, give birth.
Stingrays in captivity live up to 14 years old.
In the wild they can live till 30 years old.
Separately, Lim does export prized fishes to China, the Philippines, U.S., Vietnam, and Thailand under a registered business.
He does it through, Empire Exotic Rays, which ships worldwide.
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