Tiger Shrimp

English name: Tiger shrimp
Scientific name: Caridina cantonensis var. "Tiger"
Origin: Southern China
Size: 1 in / 1.2 in (male/female)
Water temperature: 60-80 °F / 16- 27°C (but the recommended temperature is 76-78 °F / 24-25.5 °C)
Recommended pH range: pH 6.5 - 7.5
Behaviour: non-aggressive
Difficulty: easy
Breeding rate: medium-high

Introduction to Tiger Shrimp

The Tiger shrimp is easy to keep and can usually be obtained for a quite a low price. It can be housed together with another popular beginner species, the Red Cherry shrimp, without any problem. This has made the Tiger shrimp a very popular beginner species.

When it comes to breeding, the Tiger shrimp is a great next step for the aquarist who has successfully bred a typical beginner species like Red Cherry Shrimp and wish to try something slightly more difficult.

Geographical origin and habitat

The Tiger shrimp is known to live in southern China, but it might also be found other Asian countries. Hopefully we will learn more about this in the future.

Physical appearance

Both head and tail of the Tiger shrimp are yellow which contrast beautifully against the black stripes running along the body.

The Red Tiger Shrimp looks very much like the common Tiger Shrimp, but the stripes are red instead of black.

Tiger Shrimps and Red Tiger Shrimps can mate and have hybrid offspring. The offspring inherit traits from both parents and can for instance show both black and red stripes, or be almost entirely red like a Red Cherry Shrimp.  

hybridize and have offspring showing certain characteristics of both species, e.g. both black stripes and red colouration or being almost completely red like a Red Cherry Shrimp. 

Keeping Tiger Shrimp

The pH-value should be around neutral, from slightly acidic (pH 6.5) to slightly alkaline (pH 7.5). This shrimp prefers soft water. Keep the levels of nitrite, nitrate and ammonium down. The recommended water temperature is 76-78 °F / 24-25.5 °C.
If you encounter a problem with the water quality, let the shrimps be without food for a few days while you correct the problem.

Feeding Tiger Shrimp

The Tiger shrimp is not a picky eater in captivity and will accept most types of food. You can for instance give it blanched zucchini, lettuce and spinach combined with prepared foods like flakes or algae wafers. Keep it on a varied diet to decrease the risk of nutritional deficiencies.

If there is still food left after 2-3 hours, you are either giving your shrimps to much to eat or they are too shy to come out and search for food. Shyness is usually caused by not having enough hiding spots or being kept with unsuitable tank mates. Tiger shrimps tend to be less shy when the aquarium is dark.  

Sexing and breeding Tiger Shrimp

Male and female Tiger shrimps look very much alike, but the female is wider and has a round “undercarriage” on the underside of the body. The colouration is the same for both sexes.   

Keeping the water chemistry at suitable levels and keeping the amounts of nitrogenous waste really low are imperative if you wish to breed Tiger shrimp. If you manage to do this, the Tiger shrimps will usually breed over and over again without any special coaxing.

Each batch normally contains 20-25 shrimps. Once a batch of eggs has been hatch, the female is usually with eggs again within a week if she’s healthy and kept in a suitable environment.