Question

[Enkil]

I have quite a few good looking pairs right now. However, I have a new male that I'm wanting to breed. He has good form except for one thing. His cadual is a little weak. I am wondering how I should go about improving in that. He is a HMPK. I currently have 12 females (3 CT, 1 VT, 3 HM, the rest HMPK). They have good form and a few have excellent branching. I am just wondering what exactly I should be looking for in a female to help improve upon the male.
I will try to get some good pictures of him in the AM (it is after 11 PM for me so lighting isn't that good).

[bettalover2033]

Well, with a weak caudal, you'd want to look for more branching and the even 180 spread. As well as the female with the best form. Make sure you take pictures of your HMPKs so we can really get a feel of what you're working with.

Or even a video, spend about 10-15 seconds on each female flaring.

[indjo]

weak fins are usually due to small rays. So you'd want to pair him to females with big/thick rays. Often the lesser ray branching has thicker rays (not always).

[Enkil]

I'm attaching a picture of the male. It's the best he'll give me right now. Not a fan of my camera.
Working on getting good pictures of the girls. They seem to enjoy avoiding the camera as much as possible or tease me with the perfect pose only to move when I get focused on them.

[bettalover2033]

You should try to take a video. It would be much easier on your part.

Good luck!
Posted via Mobile Device

[Enkil]

I'll have to try that.

Right now, he is guarding a bubble nest (largest and thickest I have ever seen even in pictures) at the back of the tank. So it's hard to lure him out for anything.

I have a half giant HMPK female that has a superb cadual. Full 180 spread with very sharp edges. She and my HM girls are the only ones I can get to really flare. One of the HM girls has a slightly long anal. The other two are pretty well balanced.
Sitting here observing them, my newest female has a nice cadual as well. Hard to get a read on the rest of her as she faces me as soon as she realizes I'm near the tank. I have a true blue female that has a lovely cadual as well. She's more submissive.

[tpocicat]

It's almost impossible to get a good pic of my females, seems they won't sit still! When I come over with the camera, I think they want to be fed.

[Enkil]

Mine certainly think it's feeding time any time I go near the sorority.

[tpocicat]

^a+ lol

[Curlyfatbottom]

Taking pic is hard
But if u want to get them flaring
Isolate then for a few day
That always seem to work