What is the tiger shrimp?
There are two different types of shrimp, which are sometimes called tiger shrimp. Penaeus monodon is a member of the Penaeid family with salt water shrimp, originally from the Indo Pacific water and an important part of the aquaculture industry. The second species is Caridina Cantonensis "Tiger", freshwater shrimp found in the southern part of China. These tiger shrimp are sold in the aquarium, but it is not otherwise commercially important. "Giant" is the name for these shrimp because they reach a length of 10.5 to 13 inches (26.5 to 33 cm) and weigh an average of 5.25 ounces (about 150 grams). Females are usually larger than men. Probably the shrimp is most often found in aquaculture and is commercially brought up not only in its native range, but also in other parts of the world, such as the Caribbean. The samples of these shrimp were sometimes found in waters outside the Eastern US, but there is no sign of the population. The authorities theorize that these isolated individuals have probably escaped from commercial operations.
In the wild, adult Asian tiger shrimp live on the bottom of the ocean at depths of 100 to 160 feet (about 20 - 50 m) depending on the area, their shells may be brown, gray, green, red, with alternating stripes blue or black and yellow. The larvae and youthful stage of the Asian tiger shrimp live in the coastal mouth, mangrove marshes and lagoons. Shrimp is predatory, hunts all kinds of little sea life and also catches food.
Caridina cantonensis "tiger", freshwater shrimp, is much smaller than Asian tigerkrevets, reaching a maximum length of 1 to 1.25 inches (about 2.5 to 3 cm). Females are larger and have a rounder body on the underside. The young do not pass through the larval phase, but instead hatch like a small version of adults.
They are a popular species for aquariums, easy to take care of and behave and not aggressive with other aquarium residents. The tiger shrimp itself has a yellow tail and a head with black stripes on the body. There are several other subspecies Caridina CAntonensis, which differs mainly in the color of the body. Blue, red and black are some of the variations. Various subspecies can connect and often produce offspring with mixed colors.