Wild Type Tiger Shrimp (Caridina mariae)
The wild type Tiger Shrimp can adapt to a variety of parameters. They prefer softer acidic water but can live in more challenging water environments as well. They will cross-breed with other tiger shrimp variants like the blue or tangerine tiger.
Like most dwarf shrimp, the Tiger shrimp is an omnivore, active, peaceful and a non-aggressive species. They can be kept together with other shrimps and small peaceful fish that do not eat shrimp.
The Tiger Shrimp can be distinguished from other species by its striking colour pattern which consists of a semi-transparent body with a dark brown to a blackish blotch on the lower portion of the upper shell. A series of similarly-coloured stripes on the posterior part of the upper shell and first six abdominal sections, and a lack of dark markings on the tail fin.
There are several colour variations of this aquarium shrimp available in the hobby, and these include Blue Tiger shrimp, The Wild type and the Black Tiger shrimp.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caridina mariae |
| Other Names | Blonde Tiger Shrimp |
| Classification | Malacostraca |
| Order | Decapoda |
| Family | Atyidae |
| Genus | Caridina |
| Origins | Taiwan |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Bottom - Middle |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Shoaling | No |
| Best kept as | Groups 5+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | livebearer |
| Lifespan | 1 - 2 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.0 - 7.5 |
| GH | 4 - 10 |
| KH | 2 - 6 |
| TDS | 150 - 250 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 65 - 75℉ 18.3 - 23.9℃ | |
Photos of the Wild Type Tiger Shrimp
Natural Habitat
The Tiger shrimp comes from two locations in the neighbouring counties of Conghua and Yingde, Guangdong province, in Taiwan in Southeast Asia. This species of shrimp inhabits small hill streams and swampy areas with dense vegetation.
What to feed the Wild Type Tiger Shrimp
Tiger Shrimp are scavengers and grazers, naturally consuming natural biofilm and decaying plant matter around the tank. Tank decorations such as driftwood or Indian Almond Leaves provide additional surface area for biofilm to grow and the leaves break down over time providing a natural food source for these shrimp. Live plants offer similar benefits.
Other than natural food sources, there is a mixture of commercially made shrimp foods. These foods often contain fish, crustacean plant matter or algae in pellet form, wafers or powder form.
How to sex the Wild Type Tiger Shrimp
The males and females can be tricky to differentiate sexually, but the female has a bit larger and broader tail section to carry the eggs. When the female has reached sexual maturity, you may be able to see a saddle on the female if her colouration allows.
How to breed the Wild Type Tiger Shrimp
If the water conditions are kept at the required parameters, and a male and female are present, the Tiger shrimp will breed prolifically. The females will give birth to up to 30 fully developed shrimplets every 5 to 6 weeks. In well-planted aquariums with lots of hiding places, some of the young shrimp will even grow up in the occupancy of fish. In the beginning, the tiger stripes are hard to see but intensify in colour as the shrimplets mature.