The Sire is a royal blue HMPK with a strong body and smooth topline. The caudal fin has a >180 degree spread with nicely straight outer rays (which ideally could be a bit longer). The dorsal,  anal fin do match the rest of the fish although the ventrals are a bit too long. Dame is a non-metallic royal blue HMPK with a nice torpedo shaped body, smooth topline and balanced finnage (D-shaped caudal and parallel anal fin although the dorsal fin ideally could be a bit broader at the base). 
With this cross I hope to create a strong base in order to work towards a quality line of non-metallic iridescent fish with strong bodies, smooth topline and balanced finnage. The offspring (F1) will be non-metallic steel blue, turquiose and royal blue HMPKs. 

26/01/14: The pair spawned. Eggs in the nest.

27/01/14: The fry hatched. Seems to be a small spawn.
29/01/14: The fry entered the free-swimming stage. Removed the male.
31/01/14: The fry is feeding well on vinegar eels and BBS.
20/03/14: As expected the fry are steel blue, turquoise and royal blues.
22/03/14: Fry is now 8 weeks old and transferred to a bigger grow-out tank.

17/05/14: Fry is now 16 weeks old and divided over 2 grow-out tanks. As expected the colors represented in this spawn are steel blue, turquoise and royal blue. 

30/06/14: One fish of this spawn was send to the 6th Betta Freaks Show in Schwalmtal, Germany and won a prize:
- 2nd Halfmoon plakat female class - Unicolor

05/07/14: 23 weeks old. Picture of my favorite female of this spawn, this female also was send to the show in Schwalmtal last week.