Red Tiger Shrimp

English name: Red Tiger Shrimp
Scientific name:  Caridina cantonensis var. "Red Tiger"
Origin: China
Size male/female: 1 in / 1.2 in (2.5 cm / 3 cm)
Water temperature: 59-80 °F / 15-27 °C (but 72-78 °F / 22-25.5 °C is recommended)
Recommended pH-range: pH 6.5 - 7.5
Behaviour: non-aggressive
Difficulty: easy
Breeding rate: high

Introduction to Red Tiger Shrimp

The Red Tiger Shrimp looks very similar to the common Tiger Shrimp, but with red stripes instead of black ones. Tiger Shrimps and Red Tiger Shrimps can mate and have offspring showing certain characteristics from both, e.g. both black stripes and red colouration or being almost completely red like a Red Cherry Shrimp. 

The Red Tiger Shrimp is a fairly new introduction to the hobby and can still be difficult to find in shops.

Geographical origin and habitat

The Red Tiger Shrimp inhabits Chinese streams.  

Physical appearance

As mentioned above, the Red Tiger Shrimp looks similar to the common Tiger Shrimp, but with red stripes instead of black ones. The red stripes can take on an almost orange glow from time to time, while the tail is usually orange to yellow. The eyes are black.

The Red Tiger Shrimp is not selectively bred for the hobby; it looks the same in the wild.

Keeping Red Tiger Shrimp

Keeping Red Tiger Shrimp is easy, especially if you know how to care for the more common Tiger Shrimp. Keep the water soft and the pH-value around neutral (pH 6.5-7.5). The recommended water temperature is 72-78 °F / 22-25.5 °C. The levels of soluble waste should of course be kept low. If you encounter problems with water quality, it’s okay to let the shrimps go without food for a few days until you have solved the problem. It is better for them to be without food for a while than live in water with to must waste products.

Feeding Red Tiger Shrimp

The Red Tiger Shrimp accepts virtually all kinds of food and is not a finicky eater in captivity. To decrease the risk of malnutrition, feed your shrimps several types of food instead of relying on one single type of food. You can for instance combine bloodworms and similar with prepared foods like pellets and wafers, and toss in some blanched lettuce, spinach, zucchini, etc as well.

If there is still uneaten food left in the aquarium after 2-3 hours, you are probably feeding too much or your shrimps are too shy to come out and search for food. Decrease the portions and/or start feeding in the evening when the lights are out.

Sexing and breeding Red Tiger Shrimp

The female Red Tiger Shrimp is normally larger than the male and her underbelly is more curved which makes sexing Red Tiger Shrimp fairly easy. As far as I can see, there is no difference in colouration, pattern or colour intensity between the sexes.

Healthy Red Tiger Shrimps kept in a suitable environment usually breed without any special coaxing. After mating, the female will carry the fertilized eggs until they are ready to hatch, and the mother is ready to reproduce again shortly afterwards (typically within a week). One batch normally contains 20-25 eggs.

As mentioned above, keeping Red Tiger Shrimp with Tiger Shrimp can result in them mating and producing offspring with each other.