Tangerine Tiger Shrimp

Tangerine Tiger Shrimp are a selectively bred color form of Caridina serrata, developed to intensify the warm orange base coloration that the wild type only hints at. Originating from breeding programs in Asia, they display vivid burnt-orange to tangerine bodies crossed with thin dark vertical stripes, giving them a look that punches well above their size in a planted tank. Females tend to be slightly larger and more deeply colored when in good condition.

They sit somewhere between Neocaridina and the demanding Taiwan Bee types on the difficulty scale. Water parameters matter more than with cherry shrimp, but they're genuinely forgiving compared to Crystal Reds or Blue Bolts. You're aiming for soft, slightly acidic water, ideally built from RO remineralized with a Caridina-specific mineral supplement. GH around 4 to 8, KH at 0 to 2, and pH between 6.2 and 7.2 covers the sweet spot. Stable is more important than perfect. Swings will stress them far more than sitting at 6.8 instead of 6.5.

They graze constantly throughout the day, picking biofilm off hardscape and plant leaves. A well-matured tank with good algae growth reduces how often you need to feed. Supplement with high-quality shrimp foods, blanched vegetables, and occasional protein sources like repashy or snowflake food. They don't need a lot, but variety keeps them healthy and breeding.

Breeding happens readily once conditions are dialed in. Females carry a clutch of orange-tinted eggs under their tail for around four weeks before releasing fully formed miniature shrimp. Colony growth is slower than Neocaridina but satisfying to watch develop over time. A densely planted tank with plenty of moss and fine-leaved plants gives shrimplets places to hide and graze safely.