Mine is still "red" and has the horizontal stripe, no spots. He is super shy, a very passive eater, but has grown about 2" this year. That's really alot given that he is very picky with food.I've had this 'red gar' for well over a year now.. and it has not grown much. The reddish color has not changed one bit. I will post a few pics along with the newly acquired gars sometime soon.