Please help, choosing female

[indjo]

BY edge, I meant the top and bottom part of caudal where the vertical meets the curved. A HM is preferred to have a "D" shape caudal. So the top and bottom edges should have equally long rays, making it look pointy like a perfect "D". IME fin form is inherited more from the female. If you use pointy edged females, you will have same traits in fry, not 100% though - easier to improve. Since getting (buying) perfect females is harder than males, thus IMO it's best to concentrate on working to get perfect females.

[valen1014]

Originally Posted by indjo

BY edge, I meant the top and bottom part of caudal where the vertical meets the curved. A HM is preferred to have a "D" shape caudal. So the top and bottom edges should have equally long rays, making it look pointy like a perfect "D". IME fin form is inherited more from the female. If you use pointy edged females, you will have same traits in fry, not 100% though - easier to improve. Since getting (buying) perfect females is harder than males, thus IMO it's best to concentrate on working to get perfect females.

Ooooh.... that makes a lot of sense. Thank you!

[valen1014]

Not sure whether I'll be getting her or not (although she would bring me to enough females for a sorority muahaha ).... But just for the sake of applying what I learned....

Topline - check!
Shorter(er) anal - check!
Caudal spread - check! (not sure how to count rays...)
Doral... doesn't lean back (check!) but could use stronger first ray?
Caudal D shape - check!

I guess I will go try to find reasons not to buy her now XD

*Edit: On second look... her anal fin is still a bit longer than the end of her caudal, and the caudal isn't as pointy as I though I guess ^^;

This was just a female (sister of the other 3 probably) that the seller sent me a pic of when I asked for shorter anal fin.

[Hadoken Kitty]

The problem with looking at siblings with long anal fins, is that when you ask for a shorter one, you can only get one that is so short. If a majority of the females have long anal fins, then that is an over-all fry thing, not just the female. You can go with her and slowly work your way down. Or you can simply look at another seller. She really isn't bad. You'll never find the perfect fish. There's no such thing. You'll wear yourself out, but you can pick the best from your options. You can always work to creating your ideal fish, but you'll never find "perfect".

[FishFriend9292]

I would use the second one so you don't get red mixed in with genes.

[indjo]

This female is much better than her sisters, though her dorsal could be better. Like HK said, you can't find a perfect female thus have to work for it. If her siblings mostly had long anals, she might produce more with long anals too. So, you just have to select the ones with the smallest anal

about rays, take a look at this thread
http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/b...09/#post775884