TankBud

Tangerine tiger shrimp

Caridina serrata

Also known as Caridina cf. serrata, Orange tiger shrimp

FreshwaterShrimp

Tangerine tiger shrimp (Caridina serrata)

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–79°F
20–26°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
1.2 in
3 cm
Minimum tank
5 gal
20 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Easy
Rarity
Rare
Family
Atyidae
Origin
Hill streams of Hong Kong and Guangdong, China

Overview

The tangerine tiger shrimp is the forgiving one among the Caridina, a peaceful orange grazer. It is a step up from the easiest shrimp, but far less fussy than its relatives.

Did you know

The tangerine tiger shrimp is the rare member of the fussy half of the Caridina world that breeds as readily as a cherry shrimp. That made it many keepers' first step into the tiger and bee shrimp hobby.

Caring for the tangerine tiger shrimp

Keep tangerine tiger shrimp in a group, in a tank of 5 gal (20 L) or larger. A planted or hardscaped tank with rock, wood and leaf litter suits them. They spend the day grazing biofilm and algae over the rock, wood and plants.

Keep the water cool to moderate, at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C), and slightly acidic to neutral at a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Hold it stable.

In a mature tank they need very little feeding. Add a shrimp staple, a blanched vegetable now and then, and some leaf litter.

They are safe with plants and small, gentle tank mates. Keep predators away from the shrimplets if you want the colony to grow. Tangerine tigers are direct developers, so females release fully formed young into fresh water with no marine stage. Breeding is easy, and a colony builds quickly.

Good to know

The tangerine tiger shrimp is Caridina serrata, an atyid dwarf shrimp. It anchors a species group that also produced the bee and tiger shrimp. Some workers file the tangerine tiger line under Caridina cantonensis. It is also sold as the orange tiger shrimp or Caridina cf. serrata.

In the wild

The tangerine tiger shrimp comes from hill streams around Hong Kong and Guangdong in southern China. These are the same waters that gave the hobby the bee shrimp.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The tangerine tiger shrimp is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a tangerine tiger shrimp need?

A tangerine tiger shrimp needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a tangerine tiger shrimp need?

A tangerine tiger shrimp is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a tangerine tiger shrimp eat?

A tangerine tiger shrimp grazes biofilm and algae over rock, wood and plants. In a mature tank it needs very little else, just a shrimp staple, a blanched vegetable now and then, and some leaf litter.

How big does a tangerine tiger shrimp get?

An adult tangerine tiger shrimp reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).

How does a tangerine tiger shrimp breed?

Tangerine tiger shrimp are direct developers, so females release fully formed young into fresh water with no marine stage. Breeding is easy, and a colony builds quickly.

Related species