Longtime Alameda resident Bing Seto recently returned from Guangzhou, China, where Aquarama, Asia’s largest tropical fish exhibition honored him with the prestigious “Global Ornamental Fish Lifetime Achievement.” The event marked Aquarama’s 30th anniversary.

Seto’s interest in discus fish started at the age of 19 years when he entered a tropical fish store at the local mall. There he saw discus fish for the first time. He had previously raised guppies and neon fish, but after seeing discus fish that day, he knew he wanted to try to breed them.  

Seto purchased books on how to keep and breed discus, authored by the late legend Jack Wattley. After approximately six months, he was finally able to get a pair of brown discus fish to spawn and raise their young. But after that first successful brood, his pair kept eating their eggs. That’s when he turned to raising the fry artificially.  

After many trials and errors, Seto was able to perfect his way of artificially raising discus fry. What started as a hobby eventually turned into Seto’s passion. Because of his success in producing discus fish, he built a fish hatchery in 1993. The high-tech discus fish hatchery used a computer, automatic water regulation, a central filtration system, artificial lighting and reverse osmosis. It was the largest discus fish hatchery in the United States at that time. 

Discus fish clubs heard about Seto’s artificial method of raising discus fry and invited him to give lectures at their discus fish competitions. This led him to many opportunities. He has traveled to more than 14 countries to judge, lecture on how to breed discus fry artificially and met many of the world’s top discus fish breeders.  

Seto also had a monthly column in a national tropical fish magazine for several years.

Seto was given this award because of his contributions to the discus fish hobby. 

“I appreciate everyone who has been a part of this fantastic journey,” said Seto in an email. “I have been very fortunate.”