The Sire is a (metallic) melano PK was a kind gift of Bettina Sperl from Germany. Despite his age (>1.5 years) a very vital fish with a nice torpedo-shaped body and smooth topline. The caudal has a 180 degree spread at the base but still needs some work towards a D-shape (points of attention are longer outer rays an a more uniform branching). 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. The ventrals have a nice length with single tips (bit more volume could be added here). The Dame is steel blue SD which is carrier of melano black as well as shortfin. She has a nice bodyshape and a caudal fin with nice long outer rays. The dorsal has a nice broad base (first rays slightly short). The anal is nicely parallel to the body.
With this cross I hope to get some shortfinned melano offspring with strong bodies, smooth topline and balanced finnage. The offspring (F1) can be both long- and shortfinned. Colorwise they will be (metallic) steel blue based and carrying melano although there already is a good chance some melano black will pop up. 

01/05/16: The pair spawned, there is a big clutch of eggs in the nest.
02/05/16: The fry hatched, nice big spawn.
04/05/16: The fry entered the free-swimming stage. Removed the male.
05/05/16: The fry is feeding well on vinegar eels and BBS.
25/05/16: 4 weeks old.

29/06/16: The fry is now 9 weeks old. Looks like there are several melano blacks.

05/07/16: 10 weeks old. Moved the melano black fry to a seperate grow-out in order to promote a better outgrowth.

08/08/16: 14 weeks old.

15/08/16: 15 weeks old. Two young melano HMPK males within 24h after jarring. Bodysize only 2-2.5 cm but already very eager to flare! First melano HMPKs since january 2011 bred in my fishroom, very excited!!

21/0/16: Four young melano HMPK males, now 21 weeks old. Formwise there still is quite some work to do but I see potential to work with.

05/11/16: Potential breeding pair now 27 weeks old.