Blue Tiger Shrimp

a blue tiger shrimp at the bottom of an aquarium

Welcome to the wonderful world of Blue Tiger Shrimp! If you’re considering getting a pet, these little critters are an excellent choice. They’re easy to care for and make great family pets.

Blue Tiger Shrimp are a type of freshwater shrimp native to Southeast Asia. They get their name from the bright blue stripes that run along their bodies. These stripes can vary in intensity and pattern, making each shrimp unique.

Blue Tiger Shrimp are omnivores, meaning they’ll eat both plant and animal matter. They’re scavengers by nature, so they’ll happily munch on leftover food from other tank inhabitants. They also love to snack on algae and biofilm that grows on the sides of the tank.

Blue Tiger Shrimp are small, colorful crustaceans that are native to tropical waters. They are known for being colorful and beautiful, and the darkest blue are considered the most desirable. They are also considered to be among the easiest species to maintain in captivity. They are also relatively hardy, and will tolerate temperatures ranging from 65°F to 75°F. 

Blue Tiger Shrimp are very easy to care for, requiring minimal maintenance. Many people think that they are very interesting to watch, and they can be used to teach children about aquatic biology. They are also great for teaching children about caring for living things.

These shrimp are not as common as some other species, and it might be difficult to find one at your local pet store. If you do manage to find one, you can expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $15 per shrimp. They can be kept in tanks ranging from as little as 5 gallons. They are also very easy to feed, and will accept most foods offered.

When it comes to tank mates, Blue Tiger Shrimp are peaceful and can live with a variety of other fish and invertebrates. However, they should not be kept with larger fish that may try to eat them.

Blue Tiger Shrimp are great for beginner aquarists. They’re easy to care for and don’t require a lot of maintenance. Plus, they’re fun to watch! They’re active and curious, and will often come up to the glass to investigate their surroundings.

In conclusion, Blue Tiger Shrimp are an excellent choice for first time pet owners. They’re easy to care for, peaceful, and make great family pets. If you’re looking for a low maintenance pet that will bring joy to your home, look no further than the Blue Tiger Shrimp!

Blue Tiger Shrimp Information

  • Average Length: 1.2 inches
  • Scale Colors: Shades of Deep Blue with Black stripes
  • Attention Needs: Low
  • Tolerance to Heat and Cold: No
  • Good Pet: Yes!
  • Good with Other Shrimp: Depends on individual species
  • Good with Other fish species: Only with non-aggressive species
  • Good for Less Experienced Pet Owners: Yes
  • Health Concerns: Bacterial Infections, Rust Disease, Vorticella and Scutariella Japonica
  • Average Life Span: Up to 2 years

Physical Appearance of Blue Tiger Shrimp

a blue tiger shrimp walking on the bottom of an aquarium

Blue Tiger Shrimp have a bright blue body with black vertical stripes along the sides of their body. Females are a darker blue than males. Their eyes are a contrasting bright orange.

Baby Blue Tiger Shrimp look similar to adults. The only difference is that their blue color becomes darker as they grow. While most start turning blue when they are young some may get it later. The ones who start to turn blue sooner are darker than those who get it later.

Some Shrimp may not be blue and these are called Orange Eyed Tiger Shrimp.

Dark Blue Tiger Shrimp are the most expensive and the preferred variety by Shrimp keepers.

These Shrimp can get up to 1.2 inches long and females are usually slightly longer than males. The underside of a female’s abdomen is more curved than a male’s.

Temperament of Blue Tiger Shrimp

Blue Tiger Shrimp are active and will swim most of the day. They live near the bottom of their tank and will spend most of their time grazing the substrate for food.

They are peaceful but aggressive eaters. They should be kept with other shrimp that are aggressive eaters because Blue Tiger Shrimp compete for food.

Best Habitat for Blue Tiger Shrimp

a blue tiger shrimp walking on something in the aquarium

Blue Tiger Shrimp are hardy and easy to care for. Setting up their tank is easier than other shrimp because Blue Tiger Shrimp don’t need a deep substrate. Substrates like sand or gravel work well with these Shrimp, but any inert substrate will be fine for them.
Tank size
A small 10-gallon tank is recommended for a small colony of Blue Tiger Shrimp. They can be kept in a small 5-gallon tank but it will be difficult to keep the water conditions stable in such a small tank.

If you plan to create a community fish tank then a larger tank will be needed.

Temperature

The water temperature needs to be kept between 65°F and 75°F.

Water Hardness and pH

The water pH should kept be between 7.2 and 7.4.The water hardness should be kept between 6 and 8dGH.

Lighting

Normal aquarium lighting will be fine for them, but most Shrimp like dimmer lighting so that they can hide better.

a blue tiger shrimp walking on the bottom of an aquarium

Substrate

Blue Tiger Shrimp don’t need an active substrate. They like an inert substrate (substrate that does not change water chemistry). A thin layer of aquarium substrate of 1 inch will be enough. Substrates like sand or gravel are inert substrates.

Decorations

Adding a few pieces of driftwood and some plants to their tank can completely change the inside of how your tank looks. These decorations will create more surface area for algae growth and give hiding spaces to your Blue Tiger Shrimp. The driftwood will leak tannins into the water, making it slightly murky and dimming the bottom of the tank. Java Moss is a good plant choice with Blue Tiger Shrimp.

Tank conditions

Sponge filters should be used in your tank. Sponge filters create more surface area for algae growth that your Shrimp can feed on. Sponge filters can operate at low flow speeds and are less likely to suck your Shrimp.

Tank Maintenance

Blue Tiger Shrimp are hardy but still need consistent water conditions. High levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate can stress and kill them. Food waste is a big reason for high toxicity in Shrimp tanks.

Regular water changes of 15 to 20 percent should be done each week. Regular water changes should keep the level of toxic compounds low. Use an aquarium testing kit to check the water conditions and make changes if needed.

a blue tiger shrimp walking on the bottom of an aquarium

Best Tank Mates for Blue Tiger Shrimp

Blue Tiger Shrimp get along with their own species and should be kept in small groups. If you plan to create a community tank, it’s best to keep your Blue Tiger Shrimp with peaceful and non-aggressive fish species.

Good tank mates are:

Don’t keep Blue Tiger Shrimp with Red Cherry Shrimp because Blue Tigers are aggressive eaters. They will compete for food and not let the Cherry Shrimp feed. The Shrimp varieties mentioned above are aggressive eaters, making them good tank mates for Blue Tiger Shrimp.

We recommend not keeping them with other Caridina Shrimp species like Crystal, Golden, Black or Red varieties. Keeping these types together can lead to hybrid breeding, unless you aren’t worried about hybrid breeding.

Feeding Blue Tiger Shrimp

Blue Tiger Shrimp are omnivore scavengers and will feed on a variety of meat and plant matter available in their tank. Their scavenging makes them great tank cleaners because they feed on algae, decaying plant matter and leftover food.

In a captive environment the waste matter may not be enough for your Shrimp. They’ll likely need to be fed small quantities of commercial food and vegetable matter. Shrimp pellets, flakes and fish pellets are all good for them. For vegetables, cucumbers, carrots, spinach and lettuce, and blanched zucchini will all be quickly eaten if you put them near your Shrimp.

Feed them only once every other day.

Remove any uneaten food after a few hours. If they are not interested in the food you are giving them, reduce how much you feed them. Overfeeding can lead to high toxicity in the water that could eventually kill your Shrimp.

Related Questions:

Do all Blue Tiger Shrimp Have the Same Blue Color?

No, Blue Tiger Shrimp don’t breed true meaning the same batch of eggs can have diverse blue colored offspring. The blue color passed on to offspring is not consistent and can range from royal, dark to light blue. Some offspring can turn orange when they’re fully grown. This is not unusual and doesn’t indicate a health issue.

Irrespective of the body color, the eyes for all Blue Tiger Shrimp will have the same bright orange color eyes.

Are Blue Tiger Shrimp Blind?

While many fish keepers believe Blue Tiger Shrimp are blind because of their orange eyes there is no research to support this. They do have poor vision because of orange eyes.

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Contributing Author & Social Media Expert

Maryna is an animal expert that has had dozens of animals in her life over the years. She has never found an animal that she didn't love immediately. It seems like every year she finds kittens that have been abandoned by their mom and she nurses them to health and finds homes for them. She contributes her vast knowledge about animals and family pets to our website and we're forever grateful to have her working with us. She's also an amazing graphics designer and has designed all of the social media images that we use across all platforms.