Tiger Shrimp

About

The Tiger Shrimp (Caridina mariae) is one of those species that surprises people with just how many looks it can pull off. Depending on the line, you might encounter deep orange animals with dark contrasting bands, rich red forms, nearly black variants, or the coveted blue-tinted Aura Blue Tiger. All the same species, just selectively bred over generations of hobbyist effort. The base pattern is always that bold striping running across the body, which is where the common name comes from, and even entry-level specimens tend to have good visual presence in a planted tank. In the wild, Caridina mariae comes from Taiwan, where it inhabits clean, well-oxygenated streams with softer, slightly acidic water, and the aquarium setup should reflect that. Despite its exotic reputation, this shrimp is generally considered accessible for newer keepers who can maintain stable water conditions and keep the chemistry in that slightly acidic range it prefers. It does well in groups and behaves like most dwarf shrimp. Grazing on biofilm, algae, and fine particulate matter throughout the day. A mature, well-planted aquarium gives these shrimp the cover and natural food sources they thrive on.