Caridina profile
Blue Tiger shrimp
Caridina mariae "Blue Tiger"
Blue Tiger shrimp are selected Caridina mariae with blue body color and tiger striping. Some lines also have orange eyes, but that trait depends on selective breeding.
Quick verdict
Suitable for: Caridina keepers who want a selected Tiger line and can protect line purity. Watch especially: adjust KH, GH and TDS slowly.
Quick care card
Use this card as a starting point. Always check whether your aquarium is stable enough for sensitive species.
19 - 24 °C
6 - 7.4
4 - 10 °dH
1 - 5 °dH
150 - 240 ppm
From 40 liters
Difficult
Peaceful Caridina shrimp selected for blue color and tiger markings
Biofilm, leaves, fine shrimp food and light supplemental feeding
Breeds in freshwater; line selection determines color quality
Caridina keepers who want a selected Tiger line and can protect line purity
Important
Color traits are line traits, not a care shortcut. Keep the tank stable and avoid mixing Tiger lines unless you deliberately want mixed offspring.
Care in practice
These are the points that most often make the difference between survival and a stable colony.
Use stable soft to medium-soft water: 19-24 degrees Celsius, pH 6.2-7.2, GH 4-8, KH 1-4 and TDS around 140-220 ppm. Avoid heat, ammonia, nitrite and sudden mineral changes.
A mature shrimp-only aquarium with moss, wood, leaves, protected filtration and biofilm is ideal. Keep the setup calm and stable, especially if you are breeding for color.
Feed mainly through biofilm and leaves, with small portions of shrimp food. Fine powdered food can help shrimplets, but only in tiny amounts to avoid pollution.
Blue Tiger shrimp are peaceful and do best in groups. They graze actively but can be shy after molting or in bright, exposed tanks.
Small peaceful tank mates may work, but a dedicated breeding tank is better. Avoid predators and do not mix with other Caridina lines if you want predictable blue offspring.
Breeding is freshwater. Select for strong health, fertility, stable blue color, clean striping and eye color if your line carries orange eyes. Cull or separate offspring that do not fit the line goal.
Common mistakes are buying for color without checking the line, mixing Tiger lines too freely, using unstable tap water, keeping the tank too warm, overfeeding and assuming all Blue Tigers will produce identical offspring.
Background and identification
Extra context helps you identify, compare and keep the species safely.
Blue Tiger shrimp are aquarium-selected forms of Caridina mariae. The base species is linked to South China and Hong Kong, while the blue form is a hobby breeding line.
Blue Tigers show a blue to blue-grey body with dark tiger stripes. Orange eyes may occur in specific lines, but not every Blue Tiger line shows this trait strongly.
Blue Tiger is a selected Tiger line, not a separate wild species. Compared with Taiwan Bee shrimp it usually tolerates slightly broader water, but it still needs cleaner and more stable conditions than Neocaridina.
Full species profile
Blue Tiger shrimp are selected Caridina mariae with a blue body tone and tiger striping. Some lines also show orange eyes. They are attractive Caridina shrimp, but the blue color and eye color only stay reliable when the line is bred selectively.
Care level
Blue Tigers are usually more manageable than high-grade Taiwan Bee shrimp, but they are still Caridina. They need a mature aquarium, stable soft to medium-soft water and careful feeding.
Water and setup
A practical range is 19-24 degrees Celsius, pH 6.2-7.2, GH 4-8, KH 1-4 and TDS around 140-220 ppm. Use moss, wood, leaves, protected filtration and plenty of grazing surface. Keep the tank cool and stable.
Feeding and breeding
Feed lightly with biofilm as the base, supported by shrimp food, leaf litter and fine food for shrimplets. Blue Tiger shrimp breed in freshwater. Select breeding stock for health first, then blue color, striping and eye color.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions about Blue Tiger shrimp.
Sources and review
Last reviewed: June 12, 2026. Different values are used in the hobby; choose stability over chasing numbers.
- Zenodo: Klotz & von Rintelen 2014 - To bee or not to be
Primaire taxonomische publicatie waarin onder meer Caridina mariae wordt beschreven binnen siergarnalen uit Guangdong, Zuid-China en Hong Kong SAR.
- WoRMS Photogallery: Caridina mariae
WoRMS-verwijzing naar Caridina mariae Klotz & von Rintelen, 2014 met herkomst uit de omgeving van Conghua, Guangdong.
- Garnelio: Blue tiger shrimp OE - Caridina mariae
Bron die Blue Tiger als high breeding form van de wild tiger shrimp en als Caridina mariae beschrijft.
- The Shrimp Farm: Tiger shrimp aquarium
Bron die Blue Tiger als Caridina mariae Blue Tiger plaatst en onderscheid maakt tussen Blue Tiger, blonde tiger, tangerine tiger en Fancy Tiger.
- Aquarium Glaser: Caridina mariae Deep Blue Tiger Yellow Eyes
Bron over de naamgeschiedenis, wildvorm, blauwe kweekmutatie en gele of oranje ogen bij Caridina mariae.
- The Shrimp Farm: Blue tiger shrimp care
Blue Tiger-waarden voor pH, temperatuur, GH, KH en TDS, met nadruk op soft acidic water, ingedraaide bakken en regelmatige watercontrole.
- AquariumBreeder: Blue Tiger Shrimp Guide
Aanvullende waarden voor Blue Tiger, inclusief optimale temperatuur, pH, GH, KH, TDS, nitraat, RO/DI-water met GH/KH+ en trage acclimatie.
- Garnelio: Blue tiger shrimp OE - Caridina mariae
Praktijkadvies voor zacht water, lage aanwezige KH, osmosewater met GH/KH+ als kraanwater niet past, en temperaturen onder 25 graden Celsius.
- Aquarium Glaser: Caridina mariae Deep Blue Tiger Yellow Eyes
Aanvullend advies dat aquariumlijnen vaak beter draaien met enige KH, niet permanent boven 25 graden Celsius, en bij kamertemperatuur goed reproduceren.
- The Shrimp Farm: Tiger Shrimp
Algemene Tiger Shrimp-waarden en waarschuwing dat hard of alkalisch water levensduur en kweek kan verminderen.
- The Shrimp Farm: Blue tiger shrimp care
Praktische informatie over kwetsbaarheid, ingedraaide bakken, ammoniak, nitriet, nitraat, tankmates, voeding, overvoeren, kweek en variatie in nakomelingen.
- The Shrimp Farm: Orange eye blue tiger shrimp grading
Praktische informatie over OEBT-grading, donkere en dekkende kleur, lagere grades, Royal Blue Tiger en subjectieve beoordeling.
- Garnelio: Blue tiger shrimp OE - Caridina mariae
Praktische informatie over uiterlijk, groepshouding, KH, osmosewater, voeding, kweek, jongen, selectie en kruisingen.
- AquariumBreeder: Blue Tiger Shrimp Guide
Aanvullende praktische informatie over formaat, taxonomie, kleurvererving, hardere Blue Tiger-waarden, filtratie, acclimatie en gevoeligheid voor vervuiling.
- Aquarium Glaser: Caridina mariae Deep Blue Tiger Yellow Eyes
Aanvullende praktijkinformatie over wildvorm, blauwe mutant, zuivere soortbak, temperatuur, eieren, jongen en bladvoer.