You certainly do have good friends! All my friends keep nothing MONSTROUS like me...biggest thing they have are guppies.
I wish I could get a flower in the future who will top yours!
By sister who's equally as stunning, does that mean that she was captive bred, or just another female your friend kept with her?
Definitely an idea as far as ensuring that there is plenty of current if it in any way helps bring out the colour. I'd say it's definitely got something to do with how thick the tail is!