He is gorgeous, I think Rallysman hit the nail on the head. I had mine imported from H. Kong and he was very very light, at the store and when I brought him home, he looked almost white from the stress. He has changed now to a more traditional coloration. Mine was tank bred and raised, stunning finnage, it appears to me that silver's being bred and coming out of SE Asia are being produced to look very nice.
I'd love to see some good breeding programs anywhere and everywhere just simply to prevent extinction as well as proper genetics for healthy offspring.
I'm still wondering how you got that thing to cooperate for that measuring.............my cats would enjoy helping with that job!!!!