Howard-
Good question...I'd like to hear what others have to say about color/pattern in older trempers.
I've had a few adults darken up on me (the white area turns brownish/grey) after breeding and then others in the same exact conditions will keep their colors...I've had others that get too cool (from shipping, etc...) and they darken up and stay that way and then others that don't seem affected by temp at all. So, in other words, I'm kinda clueless on this...
One of the things I love about trempers is the orange and white contrasts we're able to get now...I have one that I just love right now (pic below) and I'm really hoping his colors will continue to improve like his dad's did (his father is 3 years old and his colors look better now than when I first got him from Ron 2 1/2 years ago)
Of course, the "hybino" tremper solves this dilema