Mr.Kan and Panda Aquatics are highly respected and connected in the Singapore Asian arowana community. Panda was the second farm to obtain CITES certification on the island. Over the years Mr.Kan has served as a mentor to many people who have gone on to open their own farms ? Max of Max Koi Farm, Nicholas of Dreamfish, and Derek Goh (who is in process of opening a farm) stand out. Mr.Kan introduced me to the owner of Imperial Arowana, who made it clear that Mr.Kan is a trustworthy businessman and a legend in the Asian arowana business. Currently, Mr.Kan has taken on a new assistant named Eric to help with the running of the farm. Eric is in his late 20?s, is from China, and is finishing up his Phd in electrical engineering in Singapore. Besides helping with the wiring (just joking!), Eric has helped revamp the Panda Aquatics website. Check it out at
www.arowana.com.sg.
So, after running around Singapore, visiting countless stores and farms, I have come back to the beginning of my journey so to speak; Panda provides the best value for the money that I can find here! Of course, the fact that I have been dealing with Panda Aquatics for three years now may have something to do with that?but then that is a GOOD thing. Mr. Kan has supported me and Kenta in our desire to bring reasonably priced high quality arowana to the Canadian market. I feel that his past support is evolving even further. I honestly look on him now as being something of a mentor, which I guess puts me in good company!
Mr. Kan?s passion for the Asian arowana hobby is obvious. I share with him (I think) the contradiction that comes with combining a business with a hobby. Mr. Kan is not out to get rich from Asian arowana, nor does he seek to really build up his farm. He just wants to see his past work and labour continue to live on in the Panda name. Mr.Kan can not be bothered at this stage of his life to aggressively pursue the business of Panda Arowana anymore, but he is willing to support anyone who wants to do so. I feel honoured to have his support.
In addition to the legendary ?Panda Gold? and ?Panda Xback?, consider this ? Mr.Kan?s first grade red arowana or super red ? The Panda Red ? is a 100% product of two first grade parent fish. You will not find a banjar cross fish for sale by him. Mr. Kan sells his own fish, bred on his farm. You know what you are getting when you buy a fish from him.
Okay, time for how the group buys are going to work over the next few months. Working together, Eric and Kenta should be able to provide high resolution photos and video clips to anyone looking for an Xback or Panda Red. Eric is willing to do the photography, Kenta can handle the logistics of assembling requests for photos. Beyond group shots of fish, we should be able to provide photos of individual fish, hopefully by microchip identification- once a customer commits to a purchase by making a 25% deposit.
So, where am I in all of this? Funny enough, I am off traveling now for the next few months. You can expect to hear from me soon (hopefully) with stories of catching loaches in hill streams and diving amongst some amazing coral reefs.
If you are looking for a high quality Asian arowana at a reasonable price, I?d recommend you act soon. This kind of crazy mid-life adventure of mine will not last indefinitely?So act while you can!
