Tropical Fish Site

Profiles Reviews Guides for Tropical and Marine

Black Tiger Shrimp – Caridina cf. Cantonensis “Black Tiger”

Common names:  Black Tiger Shrimp

Scientific name: Caridina cf. Cantonensis “Black Tiger”

Average Adult Size: 1-1.2 inches / 2-3cm

Place of origin: China (Aquarium Bred)

Typical tank setup: Lots of plants and wood for grazing and providing cover.

Recommended min. aquarium capacity: 8 gallons / 30 litres

Compatibility: Community shrimp, but could be seen as food by large fish.

Temp: 62 – 81 Deg F / 17 – 27 Deg C

Water chemistry: ph 6.5-7.5. Tolerable of a wide range of conditions.

Feeding: Caridina cf. Cantonensis “Black Tiger” will happily accept most tropical fish food flakes. You can supplement their diet with algae wafers as well.

Sexing: Males are generally smaller and slimmer. Females have a curved and round underbelly upon reaching adulthood making them easier to identify.

Breeding: Females can be seen carrying eggs, which then go through a larval stage once hatched.

Additional Information: The Black Tiger Shrimp is one of the newest species of shrimp available in the hobby and is becoming more and more popular among hobbyists. It is an extremely attractive shrimp because of it’s unique jet black colouring. As the name suggests these are related to the popular Tiger Shrimp and were in fact line bred from them to obtain more prominent stripes which later led to them being completely black. Caring for these shrimp is somewhat more difficult than other popular shrimps due to their excessive line breeding making them prone to disease. They are also much more sensitive to water parameters making them not so ideal for the beginner hobbyist.