Tiger Shrimp
Caridina mariae
Also known as: Standard Tiger shrimp, Caridina Tiger, Tiger
Quick Facts
- Adult size: 2.5-3 cm (1-1.2 inches)
- Minimum tank size: 19 litres (5 gallons)
- Lifespan: 1–2 years
- Temperament: peaceful
- Swimming level: bottom-and-middle
- Diet: omnivore
- Minimum group size: 10
- Difficulty: intermediate
Water Parameters
- Temperature: 18–24°C
- pH: 6–7.5
- Hardness (GH): 89–179 ppm (5–10 dGH)
Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.
Care Summary
A clear, pale-bodied Caridina crossed with bold dark tiger stripes, often with an amber tail base and a dusting of colour over the head, the tiger shrimp is the hardiest and most beginner-accessible of the Caridina. Where the bee shrimp demand soft, acidic RO water, tigers are happy in cooler, moderately soft to neutral water over an inert substrate, so many Australian keepers can run them with far less fuss than a crystal red. They are still a step up from the bombproof Neocaridina: they prefer cooler water in the high teens to low twenties, dislike warmth and instability, and remain acutely copper-sensitive. Kept in a mature, planted, copper-free tank in a group of ten, they graze biofilm all day and breed steadily. A fine bridge species for a keeper moving from cherries towards the pickier Caridina.
Tankmates
Unlike the fussy bee and Taiwan bee shrimp, the tiger (Caridina mariae) tolerates harder, more neutral water and an inert substrate, which makes it the most forgiving of the Caridina and a good first step into the genus. It still wants cooler, clean, stable, copper-free water and is defenceless against fish, so keep it in a dedicated shrimp tank or with only tiny, gentle species such as chili rasboras and ember tetras. It does not interbreed with Neocaridina but it does cross with other tiger and bee Caridina, so keep one line per tank to hold the pattern.
Compatible with
Avoid keeping with
- Betta
- Large Cichlids
- Loaches
- Dwarf Pufferfish
- Assassin Snail
- Guppy
Common Problems
- copper poisoning from medications or fertilisers
- colony decline from unstable water or an immature tank
- heat stress above the mid-twenties, as they prefer cooler water
- moulting failure without adequate general hardness
- loss of the pattern if crossed with other Caridina lines
Sources: seriouslyfish.com, shrimpscience.com · Last updated: 2026-10-05