Tigris Sulawesi Shrimp (Caridina dennerli) Species Profile & Care Guide

The Tigris Sulawesi Shrimp's social behaviours are often quite fascinating to watch and are popular amongst breeders. This species is not aggressive and seems to enjoy the presence of other species in the tank. They are relatively popular in the shrimp-keeping hobby due to their vibrant colours and ability to thrive in warmer temperatures. Sulawesi shrimps are generally shy and sensitive to water parameter changes.

It would be better for your shrimp if you made sure they have enough hiding places in the tank, compromising caves, rocks, plants, or moss, as this gives them adequate spaces to moult safely. , when there are more places to hide in the aquarium, you will notice that they come out often and graze. Keeping a larger shrimp colony will also encourage the shrimps to come out from their hiding places more often and provide better breeding chances.

It would be better if you did not house your Suawesi shrimp with other fish species as the presence of herbivores or small fish will still stress them out even if they do not consume the shrimp. However, Rabbit Snails do make good tankmates.

Tigris Sulawesi Shrimps come in two different base colours, one brown and the other red. They display a tiger-like pattern with white stripes over the body hence the name. Tigris Sulawesi Shrimp have reddish transparent appendages, but the first two pairs of legs are usually white.

Natural Habitat of the Tigris Sulawesi Shrimp

Tigris Sulawesi Shrimp are native to the Sulawesi region of Indonesia in south-east Asia. You can find them in two ancient lakes. These lakes, like other bodies of water in the Sulawesi region, are unique. They inhabit calm waters with some vegetation and leaf litter.

Tigris Sulawesi Shrimp thrive in water temperatures and PH that is somewhat higher than other Dwarf Shrimp requirements. Usually, most of the Dwarf Shrimp from the Sulawesi region require water with a high PH but not brackish water.

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Diet

Tigris Sulawesi Shrimps are unfussy omnivores, with algae and biofilm being their primary food source. When kept in large colonies, it is crucial to balance their feeding. Blanched vegetables and high quality dried foods make excellent supplements. It would be best if you fed your Sulawesi Shrimp once a day and only provide them with a certain amount that they can consume within 2 to 3 hours; otherwise, the excess food that is lying around can affect the water quality in the tank. Also, overfeeding your shrimp can be a cause of death.

Sexing the Tigris Sulawesi Shrimp

Differentiating the sex of the Tigris Sulawesi Shrimp is quite challenging, and unfortunately, no one has figured out how to with the natural eye. The males and females of this species look exactly the same. However, the females possess a saddle under the carapace that shows the eggs, but again, unfortunately, the only way to see this is through infrared light. The shrimp's outside shell is so dark; you cannot possibly see the saddle without special equipment.

Breeding the Tigris Sulawesi Shrimp

It is relatively easy to breed Tigris Sulawesi Shrimp, and you should be able to raise the shrimplets successfully. As long as you feed them properly, and their water parameters are correct, males and females will most probably breed.

Females will carry around 20 to 30 reddish eggs in between their pleopods. If there are no significant problems, these eggs will hatch into miniature versions of the adult shrimp in about 20 to 28 days. There is no larval stage for the Tigris Sulawesi Shrimp, and females will carry their eggs until they hatch into little shrimplets.

The baby Shrimp will present the same colouration as the adults as soon as they are born, and their growth rates are pretty fast. If you maintain the tank well, the babies can grow as fast as some of the Neocaridina Shrimp.

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