The Sire is a steel blue (melano carrier) HMPK with a strong body (mouth-to-doral topline could be smoother). The caudal shows a nice 180 degree spread but the outer rays ideally could be a bit longer to create more sharp edges. The dorsal has a nice broad base, the anal is nicely trapezoid-shaped and ventrals have a nice shaped and volume. The Dame is a strongbodied steel blue black lace (melano carrier) HMPK female with a smooth topline and balanced finnage (good D-shaped caudal, broad dorsal and mathing anal fin and ventrals). The Dame is a full sister to the Sire.
With this cross I hope to fix the strong bodies, smooth topline and balanced finnage. The offspring (F2) likely will be either steel blue, melano black and/or black lace HMPK. There is a chance of marble to pop up.

08/01/18: The pair spawned.
09/01/18: The fry hatched.
11/01/18: The fry entered the free-swimming stage. Removed the male.
17/01/18: The fry is feeding well on vinegar eels and BBS.
17/04/18: 14 weeks old. There are some interesting blacks popping up in this spawn.

05/05/18: 17 weeks old. The melano black is not developing into a showfish as the anal is a bit too long but I love his appearance and see a lot of potential to work with. I also jarred a steel blue HMPK brother with an impressive dorsal.

30/06/18: This steel blue DTPK male became first placed in the doubletail class and BEST of SHOW male at the National Betta Show 2018 in Solihul, UK.

09/07/18: Two melano black brothers @ 26 weeks of age:

07/09/18: Two females of 34 weeks old.