Red empress coloring question

[LilBabyEmma]

i have a red empress thats about 2 1/2 - 3" and isnt shown any coloring besides a lil orangeish red on his fins. When should he color up and loose all his black blotchs on his body and his bar

 

[coachresue]

I have one at about 3.5" with still no color. It's definitely a male and still... Very little color. He is not the most dominant fish in the tank which can play a role in them coloring up...

 

[gomezladdams]

Empress can take from 3-5 years to show full adult coloration.

 

[iamzrad]

Most likely, the blotches will never disappear, unless you have a line-bred Empress.
And yes, they take many years to fully mature.