Tiger shrimp confusion

[Mdindy]

Good morning all,

 

I am new to this (forum and shrimp keeping) and this is my first post! Thought I would start off by clarifying some of my confusion about tiger shrimp. I was initially under the impression the tiger shrimp was a Caridina Cantonesis shrimp (along with Bee and Crystal shrimp). If I am not mistaken that is the case with all tiger shrimp except tangerine tigers who are Caridina Serreta? Recently I have found some information online that said tiger shrimp are Caridina Mariae instead and are different than Caridina Cantonesis. 

 

On a separate note is there a simple explanation for the different between different tiger types, like Royal vs Fancy. 

I don’t even know where to start to figure this out, it’s hard finding this information online. Any help would be much appreciated!

[jayc]

10 hours ago, Mdindy said:

Recently I have found some information online that said tiger shrimp are Caridina Mariae instead and are different than Caridina Cantonesis.

Your initial impression that Tigers are Cantonesis might be because they were all classed under this name a long time ago. Recently, (I say recent, but it has actually been 5+ years now), evidence has shown that Tigers are a different sub species and therefore given a new scientific name of Caridina Mariae. 

 

10 hours ago, Mdindy said:

different between different tiger types, like Royal vs Fancy. 

I'll try to give you an simple explanation.

 

Fancy tigers are hybrids. The term "fancy" is just given as a name to indicate that the Tiger has been breed with another species to produce a different pattern. It started with crossing Crystal Red Shrimps(CRS) and Orange Eye Blue Tiger(OEBT). And has now evolved to crossing with a Taiwan bee to produce a splotchy pattern. You can get a variety of colour like Red, or Black Fancy tigers being the most common. They are still essentially Tibees. But they have a distinct splotchy pattern.

You still get the distinct tiger stripes but they are a lot fancier in colouring.

Compare this to the original tiger shrimp Caridina Mariae below ...

 

This one below is of an extremely high quality Fancy Tiger. Full colouration, no clear spots. The lines between red and white are clean and crisp, no blending of colours. The red and white colours are rich and intense. Legs are also coloured in red and not clear. This one is almost certainly a PRL cross Tiger.

 

 

Blue Tigers are a bit easier to explain.

Royal Blue is a colour variation name. It's just a name to distinguish it from the normal Blue tiger.

Blue Tigers are ... blue with the trademark tiger stripes.

Royal Blue as an extremely dark blue colouration, the stripes almost disappear in the intense dark blue.

 

Pictures speak a thousand words ...

"Normal" Blue tiger.

 

VS

Royal Blue

 

 

Anytime you hear of a term added before the name of the shrimp, its usually a colour variation.

Hope that helps.

Edited August 29, 2019 by jayc

[Mdindy]

That was a huge help actually, thank you!!