Tiger shrimp DNZ - Caridina mariae

The tiger shrimp is a real classic in the aquarium. It has a beautiful black tiger pattern on a transparent background. Mostly the head and tail area are very slightly orange. With a maximum size of up to three centimeters, the tiger shrimp is one of the largest dwarf shrimp species. The males, however, remain somewhat smaller.

Tiger shrimp are very fond of eating algae deposits and biofilms as well as brown autumn leaves, which should not be missing in any invertebrate aquarium, but they also like to take special shrimp food. Twice a week, we recommend feeding a suitable protein food to help them meet their protein needs. Otherwise, food with predominantly vegetable components is advised.

Tiger shrimp are considered to be very sociable group animals. They can be socialized very well with small peaceful fish, but also with snails of all kinds. Even with other shrimps they can be kept well together, provided that the required water values are approximately comparable. With bee shrimp the tiger shrimp crosses, which is even desired by many breeders, because beautiful new color forms can be bred out of the hybrids.

In nature, tiger shrimp live in very soft, clean water with a KH and GH of almost zero. In the aquarium, however, it has been found that they are more comfortable in water with a low KH of about 3 to 4 and also reproduce better. If the tap water is too hard, you can resort to hardening salt (KH/GH+) and osmosis water to create favorable conditions for the animals. If the water temperatures rise above 25 °C, the aquarium should be cooled, because the tiger shrimp does not like higher temperatures too much.

The breeding of the tiger shrimp practically takes place by itself, if the animals find good keeping conditions. The female can carry between twenty and forty eggs, from which fully developed young hatch after three to four weeks, which are completely independent from the beginning. Since they are quite immobile in the first days, they need a good dust food that reaches everywhere in the aquarium. A special breeding tank is not needed, because the adults hardly chase their offspring.

Our food recommendation: NatureHolic's soft mainfeed softpads are designed for daily feeding. They contain all the nutrients shrimp need for shell development, egg formation and growth. During the production we pay attention to a gentle and environmentally friendly production, in which the vitamins and other valuable ingredients are preserved as far as possible.

Our plant recommendation: Use for the planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planaria and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.