Orange Eye Royal Blue Tiger Shrimp

Species Profile

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.

**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.

Key Features & Notes

• Tank-raised unsexed juveniles featuring velvety midnight-blue pigmentation that obscures standard tiger striping.
• Signature glowing orange eyes that create a dramatic, high-contrast focal point in soft-water setups.
• Rare Caridina variety prized by intermediate and advanced keepers seeking top-tier genetics.
• Active, social scavengers that constantly graze on natural biofilm and diatoms across substrate and hardscape.

Care Specifications

• Maintain stable, soft, acidic water chemistry using an active buffering substrate to protect sensitive Caridina health.
• Keep water parameters strictly free of copper-based medications or heavy metals.
• Supplement their diet with plant-based shrimp pellets, spirulina, and blanched vegetables to ensure proper minerals for molting when natural algae is low.
• Provide plenty of hiding spots like mosses or Cholla wood to maximize shrimplet survival rates and offer security during molting.

Quick Facts

Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to maintain stable parameters to ensure a healthy, thriving colony!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I properly acclimate my new freshwater shrimp to prevent shock?

Dwarf shrimp are sensitive to sudden shifts in water parameters and total dissolved solids (TDS). Always drip acclimate new arrivals over 1 to 2 hours before releasing them into your tank. Follow our step-by-step tutorial in 7 Easy Steps to Drip Acclimate Shrimp and Fish for the perfect drip rate setup.

2. What substrate is best for keeping dwarf shrimp healthy?

It depends on the species! Neocaridina species thrive in inert substrates like gravel or sand, while Caridina species like Orange Eye Royal Blue Tigers require active aquasoils that buffer pH down and pull KH to zero. Learn how to select the right foundation for your aquarium shrimp in our Best Substrate for Shrimp Guide.

3. How do I get my colony to start breeding?

As long as water parameters remain stable, temperatures stay in the low 70s, and adequate food is present, dwarf shrimp will breed naturally. To maximize baby shrimplet survival rates and learn how to support berried females, read our complete guide on How to Breed Freshwater Shrimp.

4. Are dwarf shrimp easy to care for if I am a beginner?

While Neocaridina species are great for beginners, Caridina species like Royal Blue Tiger Shrimp require precise soft-water conditions (low KH, low TDS, and active buffering soil). If you are just starting out, get a complete overview of parameters, diet, and setup requirements in our Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp Care Guide.