Orange Eye Royal Blue Tiger Shrimp

Common Name:  Orange Eye Royal Blue Tiger
Scientific Name: Caridina mariae "Royal Blue"
Genus: Caridina
Wild Origin: China (Selective Breed)
Adult Size: 1.2 in

**Note:  All livestock orders will come carefully packaged with solid wall Styrofoam insulation and shipped via 1-day shipping only. No additional insulation is needed for your livestock.

The Orange Eye Royal Blue Tiger is the "Crown Jewel" of the Tiger freshwater shrimp family. While standard Blue Tigers are known for their stripes and translucent blue tones, the Royal Blue grade is the result of extreme selective breeding to achieve a solid, opaque, and nearly black-blue body. This deep midnight hue creates a breathtaking contrast with their signature "glowing" orange eyes. 

As with all premium Caridina species, Royal Blue Tigers require specific water parameters to maintain their health and deep pigmentation. They are a soft water species that thrives in slightly acidic environments with zero to very low carbonate hardness. In a shrimp aquarium, they are active and social, spending their time scavenging the substrate and hardscape for biofilm. Their rare color profile makes them one of the most visually rewarding freshwater shrimp available today.

Check out our guide on the different substrates that can help achieve ideal water parameters for these shrimp: Best Substrate for Shrimp

Key Features & Important Notes

• Tank raised specimen
• Unsexed juveniles
• Deep, velvety blue-to-black coloration that obscures traditional tiger stripes.
• To increase survival rates, please allow 2-3 business days after an order is placed to properly prepare live animal shipments. 
  

Recommended Water Parameters:

• Temperature Range: 68–76°F
• pH: 6.0-6.5
• TDS: 100-150
• GH: 3-5
• KH: 0-2

Recommended Tank Size
5–10+ gallons. Given their value and sensitivity, we recommend a 10-gallon shrimp tank or larger to ensure a stable ecosystem and consistent water chemistry.

Diet
Omnivorous. Orange Eye Royal Blue Tigers are tireless scavengers. Their diet primarily consists of biofilm, diatoms, and algae. For optimal health and shell density, supplement with high-quality plant-based pellets, bee pollen, and blanched vegetables.

Breeding
Breeding Royal Blue Tigers is a rewarding challenge for the intermediate to advanced hobbyist. Like all OEBTs, they do not breed 100% true, but a "Royal" colony will produce a higher percentage of deep-blue offspring. Sexing is easiest at maturity; females are slightly larger and exhibit a deeper "under-shield" on the tail to carry eggs.

The breeding cycle begins when a fertile female molts and releases pheromones, triggering the males into an active mating search. Once "berried," she carries the eggs for approximately 30 days. To ensure high fry survival rates, provide plenty of hiding spots like mosses or Cholla wood. Always leave molted shells in the tank so the shrimp can recycle the calcium for their next growth stage.

Check out our blog article to learn  how to breed freshwater shrimp.