Caridina profile
Indian Zebra shrimp
Caridina cf. babaulti "Zebra"
Indian Zebra shrimp are usually traded as Caridina cf. babaulti "Zebra". They need stable clean water and cautious line identification because trade names vary.
Quick verdict
Suitable for: Keepers who want a hardy Caridina-style shrimp and accept some trade-name uncertainty. 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.
20 - 26 °C
6.8 - 7.8
4 - 14 °dH
2 - 8 °dH
100 - 220 ppm
From 30 liters
Intermediate
Peaceful small Caridina with zebra-like patterning
Biofilm, leaves, fine shrimp food and light supplemental feeding
Often breeds in freshwater, but confirm the exact line
Keepers who want a hardy Caridina-style shrimp and accept some trade-name uncertainty
Important
Use cautious wording with this shrimp: taxonomy and trade labels are not always consistent. Check the seller line and water values before mixing or breeding.
Care in practice
These are the points that most often make the difference between survival and a stable colony.
Use stable water around 20-26 degrees Celsius, pH 6.5-7.8, GH 5-12, KH 2-8 and TDS about 150-280 ppm. Avoid ammonia, nitrite, copper and sudden mineral swings.
Use a mature planted shrimp tank with moss, leaves, wood, biofilm and a protected filter intake. Avoid sterile new tanks and unstable water.
Feed lightly with biofilm and leaf litter as the base. Add small shrimp foods, mineral food and occasional fine food for young. Avoid heavy feeding.
Indian Zebra shrimp are peaceful group shrimp. They do best with cover, stable routines and low-stress tank mates.
They can live with peaceful small fish or other shrimp if water values match, but a dedicated group is better for breeding and identification. Avoid predators and avoid mixing uncertain Caridina lines.
Many hobby lines breed in freshwater with direct development. Provide biofilm, moss, leaves and a protected intake for young. Confirm the line if breeding behavior is important to you.
Common mistakes are trusting trade names blindly, mixing uncertain Caridina lines, using a new tank, overfeeding, ignoring copper risk and expecting every animal sold as Zebra to behave identically.
Background and identification
Extra context helps you identify, compare and keep the species safely.
The trade name is usually connected with the Caridina babaulti complex from South Asia, but exact identification in the aquarium trade can be inconsistent.
Indian Zebra shrimp are small, usually translucent to brownish or greenish with darker zebra-like striping. Pattern strength varies by line and condition.
They are not Neocaridina and not Bee shrimp. Compared with Neocaridina they can be less common and more variable in trade identification. Compared with Bee shrimp they usually do not need extreme soft acidic water.
Full species profile
The Indian Zebra shrimp is usually traded as Caridina cf. babaulti "Zebra". It is a small Caridina with striped patterning, but trade names and exact taxonomy are not always used consistently.
Care level
Care is usually closer to a hardy small Caridina than to high-grade Bee shrimp. Use a mature tank, stable clean water and avoid extremes. Because trade lines vary, match your care to the water values used by the seller when possible.
Water and setup
A practical range is 20-26 degrees Celsius, pH 6.5-7.8, GH 5-12, KH 2-8 and TDS around 150-280 ppm. Use plants, moss, leaves, biofilm and protected filtration.
Breeding
Many hobby lines breed in freshwater with direct development, but confirm the line if you are buying specifically to breed. Keep them separate from other Caridina if you want to avoid crossing or confusing offspring.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions about Indian Zebra shrimp.
Sources and review
Last reviewed: June 12, 2026. Different values are used in the hobby; choose stability over chasing numbers.
- WoRMS: Caridina taxon list
Taxonomische bron waarin Caridina babaulti Bouvier, 1918 als geldige soort wordt genoemd en Caridina babaulti babaulti als synoniem wordt geaccepteerd.
- Zenodo: Report of Caridina babaulti from Gujarat, India
Publicatiegegevens voor Pandya en Richard 2019 over Caridina babaulti Bouvier, 1918 uit Gujarat, India en de beschrijving van een verwante nieuwe soort.
- The Shrimp Farm: Babaulti shrimp care
Hobbybron die de aquariumnaam Caridina cf. babaulti gebruikt, zebra Babaulti als kleurvorm noemt en herkomst vooral India, mogelijk andere delen van Azie, aangeeft.
- Flip Aquatics: Zebra Shrimp and Caridina Babaulti
Hobbybron die de taxonomische onzekerheid rond Babaulti-garnalen benoemt en Zebra Babaulti als wildkleurige hobbyvorm bespreekt.
- The Shrimp Farm: Babaulti shrimp care
Geeft pH 6.5-7.8, 64.5-82.5 graden Fahrenheit, TDS 100-200, uiteenlopende hardheidsadviezen en nadruk op volledig ingedraaide aquaria, nul ammoniak en nul nitriet.
- AquariumBreeder: Caridina cf. Babaulti detailed guide
Geeft 70-80 graden Fahrenheit, KH 0-12, GH 4-14 en TDS 50-250 voor kweekcondities, plus advies over volwassen bakken en sponsfiltratie.
- Aquatic Arts: Green Babaulti care guide
Aanvullende Babaulti-praktijkbron met pH 6.8-7.8, 75-82 graden Fahrenheit, KH 0-10, GH 4-14 en TDS 80-200.
- Shrimpy Business: Zebra Babaulti care guide
Specifieke Zebra Babaulti-bron met 65-75 graden Fahrenheit, pH 6.5-7.8, hardheid 2-20 dGH en nadruk op stabiele waterkwaliteit.
- The Shrimp Farm: Babaulti shrimp care
Praktische informatie over aquariummaat, schuilplaatsen, waterkwaliteit, tankgenoten, voeding, biofilm, bladresten en trager verlopende kweek.
- AquariumBreeder: Caridina cf. Babaulti detailed guide
Praktijkbron voor importgevoeligheid, volwassen aquaria, voeding, biofilm, substraat, sponsfilter, geslachtsonderscheid, eieren en zoetwaterkweek.
- Shrimpy Business: Zebra Babaulti care guide
Specifieke Zebra Babaulti-bron voor uiterlijk, kleurwisseling, tankinrichting, voeding, compatibiliteit, kweek en kleine langzaam groeiende jongen.
- Blue Crown Aqua: Zebra Babaulti Shrimp
Aanvullende verkoop- en praktijkbron voor Zebra Babaulti over vreedzaam gedrag, voeding, compatibiliteit, waterwaarden en zoetwaterkweek.
- Aquatic Arts: Green Babaulti care guide
Aanvullende Babaulti-bron over weinig voeren, koper vermijden, prefilter, soortbak voor kweek en jongen die biofilm nodig hebben.