Grading is not a trophy. It is a sorting tool so lines move forward instead of sideways.
What I look at
- Pattern — is the marking clean and true to the line?
- Coverage — how completely does the color or pattern fill the body?
- Consistency — does this animal look like its siblings, or like a one-off?
Keepers, project stock, culls
Keepers carry the line in a direction I want. Project stock stays in my racks to test pairings. Culls teach me what not to repeat — they are information, not failure.
Farm note: Words like King, Queen, Galaxy, or BOA grade only mean something if they match what you see under the same light every time. I grade under the light I actually use — not a filtered phone look.
Why photos matter
Macro photos freeze a moment. Real animals molt, stress, and change. Learn the line, not just one hero shot. If you are comparing breeders, compare lighting and honesty as much as the shrimp.