Breeding the tiger shrimp
Direct development: the female carries the eggs for about 30 days and the young hatch as miniature adults (about 3 mm) without a free-swimming larval stage.
Step by step
Keep a group of 15-20 and let them pair up; females moult and then mate within a day or two.
20-40 L tank with active buffered soil, RO or remineralised soft water (GH 4-6, KH 0-2, pH 5.8-6.8), moss and a sponge filter.
Stable soft water and a small cool water change with RO water often triggers moulting and mating.
Typically 20-30 young per brood after about 3-4 weeks (about 30 days); young hatch fully formed.
Shrimplets look like tiny adults and graze biofilm; give powdered food and moss and avoid strong flow.
- Using hard tap water
- Big swings in temperature or TDS
- Adding copper-containing foods or medicines
Male or female
Females are larger than males and have a curved underbelly; a ripe female shows a saddle of developing eggs behind the head.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Good for a first breeding project.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for shrimp
- Day 0Berried female
Eggs are carried under the tail. Keep the water stable and don't move her.
- Day 21Hatching
After about 2–4 weeks tiny shrimp hatch. They graze on biofilm and moss.
- Day 30Growing
Keep a sponge on the filter intake. Feed powdered shrimp food a little at a time.
- Day 90Adults
They can breed themselves at about 3 months.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Eggs are carried under the tail. Keep the water stable and don't move her.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- A female became berried.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.