The Sire is blonde steel blue melano black HMPK with a promising form. He shows a strong body, a D-shaped caudal fin, a dorsal of which the front rays which are directed forwards, a nice trapezoid-shaped anal fin and matching ventrals. The Dame is a strongbodied steel blue HMPK female with a smooth topline and balanced finnage. Although caudal could be slightly better (outer rays should be longer), the dorsal has a nice broad base with an anal fin which is nicely parallel to the body. 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.

07/01/18: The pair spawned.
08/01/18: The fry hatched.
10/01/18: The fry entered the free-swimming stage. Removed the male.
15/01/18: 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.

06/05/18: 17 weeks old. Interestingly these fish carry both black lace and melano black. Some fish seem to be more black lace with minimal iridescence whereas others are more like melano black. Curious to see how these fish will develop further and to learn more about their genetics.