About the species

Black Fancy Tiger is a cross between tiger and bee shrimp where the tiger striping is combined with the bee shrimp's white marking. The result is a black-and-white shrimp with a pattern that varies from individual to individual, often showing both bands and stripes.

Facts

• Latin name: Caridina cantonensis
• Common name: Black Fancy Tiger
• Size: Up to 3 cm
• Lifespan: 1.5–2 years

Behavior

Black Fancy Tiger is a peaceful and curious shrimp that grazes across the whole aquarium throughout the day. It thrives best in a group of at least ten and appreciates moss, leaf litter and plenty of hiding places.

Reproduction

• Females usually carry 20–30 eggs under the tail
• The eggs hatch after about 30 days as fully developed shrimplets
• Requires soft, acidic and very stable water in order to breed

Feeding

Black Fancy Tiger is an omnivore with a clear plant bias and feeds on:

• Biofilm
• Algae
• Decaying leaves and plant matter

Feel free to supplement with:

• A Caridina-specific shrimp food
• Catappa or mulberry leaves
• Protein food, sparingly

Aquarium

• Minimum aquarium size: 30 litres
• Substrate: Active soil (we use Environment Soil)

Difficulty level

🟡 Moderate

Recommendation

Black Fancy Tiger is an exciting choice if you like variation in the pattern. As a tiger-bee hybrid it is somewhat hardier than the pure Taiwan Bee lines but still requires soft, acidic water. Select for clear striping if you want to develop the line further.