What is a Black Diamond Leopoldi?

Black Diamond Leopoldi

A name that sounds so cool it derserves a ray that fits it.

The "Black Diamond" part is just made up. It has no scientific value.

But I like it, because it defines a particular appearance of Leopoldi that looks exceptionally nice. Don't you guys remember when Ezman posted his years back next to a common Leopoldi? Breathtaking!!!

What defines this appearance I like so much and what are the most important differences from the common Leopoldi? What is a BD and what not?

In my opinion there are rays that definately can be classified as Black Diamond Leopoldi and rays that can be classified as definately not. And there are many inbetweeners...

I am writing this because of a discussion in another thread prior to this one, in which the remark was made "There is still NO absolute defintion of a BD".
I'm not saying there ever will be but I will try to show you what the name Black Diamond Leopoldi defines for me.

I welcome your opinions, partly because I like to learn and partly because of all the critical views on this subject.


The pictures and the animals in them belong to me and a group of friends that breed Black Diamond Leopoldis in Europe. I aquired my first BD's before the ban was lifted thanks to them. They deserve the credits.

General appearance

1. black with white spots - whiter spots is higher quality

2. spotting around the diskedge - higher density is higher quality - common Leos do not have this

3. eyes are marbled white and grey - common Leos have grey eyes

3. three rows of spines on the tail

4. short round flagtail

5. belly spotting - more spotting is higher quality - common Leos have a darkgrey belly



Here is a picture of a common Leopoldi next to a Black Diamond Leopoldi. The young BD in this photo is not jetblack yet but will be when it is mature. To me the spotting around the edge is the most important difference.



Here are two more pics of what I would call BD's. Notice one went black early while the other one stayed grey for a long time. In the second pic there is a good view of the edgespotting and the eyecoloration.

A closer look at the eye, it looks like the white spotting continues in it.



Bellyspotting at a young age and at maturity. To me this is a plus but not as important as the top of the ray. I have seen beautiful BD's with hardly any bellyspotting, more like a white belly.

Pups, my personal favorite with the big white blotches

Adults

[marshy]

Are your 5pts of general appearance a must have in total or just some?
Cos I've seen "adult BDs" without belly spottings and even have spots with obvious tinge of yellow.

An informative thread and useful guidelines on how to identify a Black Diamond.....Cheers for your effort and time....

For me ... I always try to find the best combination of all you have stated on the above in search of such quality ... What most important .....see the ray you like buy it... dont buy it for the sake of buying....