About the species

Wild Type Tiger is the natural wild form of the tiger shrimp: a translucent grey to brownish body with distinct dark cross stripes along the sides and often a yellowish tail. It is the hardiest of the tiger shrimp and a good first step into Caridina keeping.

Facts

• Latin name: Caridina mariae
• Common name: Wild Type Tiger
• Size: Up to 3 cm
• Lifespan: 1–2 years

Behavior

Wild Type Tiger is a peaceful and notably active shrimp that moves openly around the aquarium. It thrives in a group of at least ten and suits a planted nano tank with moss and driftwood.

Reproduction

• Females usually carry 20–30 eggs under the tail
• The eggs hatch after about 30 days as fully developed shrimplets
• The species breeds willingly in fresh water when the values are kept stable

Feeding

Wild Type Tiger is an omnivore and feeds on:

• Biofilm
• Algae
• Organic material

Feel free to supplement with:

• A quality shrimp food
• Blanched spinach or nettle
• Catappa leaves

Aquarium

• Minimum aquarium size: 30 litres
• Substrate: Active soil or neutral shrimp gravel

Difficulty level

🟡 Moderate

Recommendation

Wild Type Tiger is our recommendation if you want to try Caridina without going straight to the sensitive bee lines. It handles a wider pH range than Taiwan Bee and breeds willingly in fresh water when the values are kept stable.