Tangerine Tiger Shrimp (Caridina Serrata)

Even though the Tangerine Tiger Shrimp was one of the first known shrimp species described in scientific research, it is still a poorly understood species.

Tangerine Tiger shrimp are not very well-known in the aquarium hobby, but they are still one of the best dwarf shrimp you can hope for. These Shrimp are peaceful, hardy, and easy to look after. They are harmless and will not bother other species in the community aquarium. They are not territorial and favour being in large groups. The bigger the shrimp colony, the more secure they will feel, and they will act more confident.

Tangerine Tiger shrimp have a fascinating and attractive colour. In the aquarium trade, we can often see yellow or orange variations of these Shrimp, and they have several colour variants. Their semi-transparent bodies can acquire a yellow, purple, blue or even a greenish tint.

These shrimp display dark irregular stripes and their bodies are covered with many tiny dots that make them look attractive. Another distinguishable trait of this species is that the Tangerine Tiger has a very short rostrum.

Wild-types of Caridina Serrata is usually brown or colourless. This will help them to blend into their environment, which makes it more difficult for predators to find them.

Hobbyists bred all these fancy colours, and slowly brighter colours came out until eventually, we get to the strains.

Habitat

The Tangerine Tiger Shrimp is endemic to Hong Kong in Southern China and have locally confined distributions.

The Tangerine Tiger shrimp inhabits soft to acidic, small slow-moving streams or rivers both in the plains and in the mountains.

Due to collection for the aquarium trade, pollution and urbanization of Hong Kong Island, the Tangerine Tiger is now seriously threatened and should be regarded as an endangered species.

Other Caridina of interest

Diet & Feeding

Tangerine Tiger shrimp are scavengers, and not at all fussy eaters. In a well-established aquarium, they can usually find enough supply of food

by using their specialized chelipeds to consume algae, leaf litter, biofilm and detritus, any food, they succeed in finding on the bottom of your aquarium.

However, to keep Tangerine Tigers healthy, it will be a good idea to supplement them from time to time with traditional shrimp foods as well as some blanched zucchini, cucumber, lettuce, carrots, and spinach to their diet.

Indian almond leaves would also be a great choice to add to their diet because of its outstanding properties and qualities.

Breeding

Tangerine Tigers reach sexual maturity around 3 to 4 months old and are prolific breeders. The females will moult before mating and will release a particular chemical substance into the surrounding water which attracts males. This substance will let the males know that the female is ready to spawn. Which makes the male Shrimp swim eccentrically around the tank, seeking her out.

The amount of eggs produced from each female depends on the size of the female itself. The females will start to carry a batch of eggs under her tail. The female will hold these eggs for the entire time necessary for incubation which is usually around 4 to 5 weeks.

You will see her fanning the eggs frequently with her pleopods.

After the incubation stage, the Blue Bolt female will release around 30 to 40 fully developed shrimplets. These look like miniature replicas of the adult shrimp and are no more than 2 mm in length and are entirely independent.

Do not worry about their colour at this stage. The shrimplets will become more intensely coloured as they mature.

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