The Sire is a steel blue (blonde) HMPK with a black lace underlayer. He has a nice strong body. The caudal has a nice D-shape with long outer rays. The anal has a good trapezoid shape with a nice gradual slope. The dorsal is uniform rounded and ideally could have a bit more volume with a broader base. The ventrals have a nice length, volume and single tips. The Dame is royal blue HMPK with a nice long body with a smooth topline. She has a pretty good D-shaped caudal fin, a broad-based dorsal (front rays ideally could be longer) and parallel anal fin).
With this cross I hope to fix the strong bodies, smooth topline and balanced finnage. The offspring (F2) likely will be darkbody steel and royal blues with a chance of blondes to pop up.

28/08/15: The pair spawned smoothly. There are lots of eggs in the nest.
29/08/15: The fry hatched.
30/08/15: The fry entered the free-swimming stage. Removed the male.

02/10/15: The fry is now 5 weeks old and feeding well on tubifex. As expected all the fish are royal and steel blues with some blondes popping up.

03/11/15: The fry is now 10 weeks old and growing well.

12/12/15: The fry is now 15 weeks old. Here 4 males which have been jarred two weeks ago. I personally really like the grey steel blue color.

26/12/15: The fry is now 18 weeks old.

16/02/16: 25 weeks old!