Caridina Shrimp
Orange Eye Royal Blue Tiger Shrimp
A solid deep royal blue Tiger shrimp with vivid orange eyes and the striping bred entirely out. The refined endpoint of the Orange Eye Blue Tiger line, producing fewer culls and a more uniform blue than its striped parent stock.
Orange Eye Royal Blue Tiger Shrimp (Caridina cf. cantonensis), commonly abbreviated OERBT, are a refined development of the Orange Eye Blue Tiger line. Where standard OEBTs display dark tiger striping across a blue body, the OERBT was created by selectively breeding stripeless OEBT specimens across successive generations. Through that process the striping disappeared entirely and the blue intensified, producing a solid deep royal blue shrimp with no banding and strikingly vivid orange eyes. The result is both more visually uniform than standard OEBT and more reliable to breed, as OERBTs produce notably fewer culls than their striped parent line. They are active, confident grazers that spend most of their time working algae and biofilm from plants, glass, and substrate, and they are more aggressive feeders than most dwarf shrimp. Adults reach approximately 1.2 inches. Intermediate difficulty, requiring remineralised RO water and stable parameters.
6.6–7.5pH
5–8GH (dGH)
0–2KH (dKH)
64–78°FTemperature
Colour & Line
Blue Without Stripes
Solid deep royal blue body with the tiger striping fully bred out. This is the defining difference between OERBT and standard OEBT. Orange Eye Blue Tigers carry dark tiger stripes across the body; Orange Eye Royal Blue Tigers were developed specifically by selecting stripeless individuals until the banding disappeared entirely. The blue that remains is deeper and more intense than the base colour of striped OEBTs, reading as a uniform, saturated royal blue across the whole body.
Vivid orange eyes are the signature feature of the Orange Eye Tiger group. The bright orange eye colouration is the characteristic that names the entire OE Tiger line and is what makes these shrimp so immediately recognisable. In high-grade specimens the eyes are intensely orange, close to fluorescent against the deep blue body. Lower-grade shrimp in the broader Tiger group may show browner eyes, but the orange eye trait is the reason the line exists and is what buyers are paying for.
Produces significantly fewer culls than standard OEBT. One of the practical advantages of the OERBT line is breeding consistency. Standard Orange Eye Blue Tigers throw a wide range of offspring including clear and poorly coloured shrimp. Because OERBTs were developed through generations of selecting against striping, the line is more stabilised and produces a higher proportion of well-coloured offspring. For a keeper looking to establish a colony rather than just maintain a display, this matters considerably.
Dark substrate and hardscape make the royal blue read at maximum depth. The solid blue body has real depth against dark aquasoil, dark hardscape, and green plant colour. Because there is no striping to break up the body, the colour reads as a single uniform block, which makes substrate choice more impactful for this variety than for patterned shrimp.
Care
Requirements & Setup
Remineralised RO water is required. This is an intermediate-level shrimp. OERBTs need controlled, stable water chemistry that tap water cannot reliably provide. Use RO water remineralised to GH 5 to 8 with KH 0 to 2 and TDS 100 to 200. Parameter stability matters more than hitting an exact number, so a steady pH of 7.0 is better than one drifting between 6.6 and 7.5.
Tigers prefer higher pH than most Caridina, sitting at 6.6 to 7.5. This is an important distinction. Taiwan Bee Caridina like Blue Bolt and Crystal Red require pH 5.8 to 6.8 over active buffering substrate. Tiger shrimp including OERBT prefer neutral to slightly alkaline conditions and do not need an active soil buffering the water down. This makes them noticeably easier to keep than Taiwan Bee lines and a good first step into Caridina keeping.
Room temperature suits them well. No heater required in most homes. OERBTs thrive at 64 to 78°F and generally do not need supplemental heating. Cooler water within that range tends to produce better colour and longer lifespans than sustained warmth at the upper end.
Low flow, well-cycled tank with aged water and abundant grazing surface. These shrimp are continuous grazers and need established biofilm to feed on. Porous hardscape such as lava rock is particularly valuable for the enormous biofilm surface area it provides. Java Moss, Subwassertang, and Almond Leaves all contribute grazing surface and shelter.
Aggressive feeders that will outcompete Neocaridina. OERBTs are more assertive at feeding time than most dwarf shrimp. While Caridina and Neocaridina cannot interbreed, keeping them together is still not advised because the Tigers will dominate food and the Neocaridina will get less than they need. Keep OERBTs as a species colony or with other Tiger varieties only.
Will crossbreed with other Caridina varieties. OERBTs interbreed readily with other Caridina, and the resulting offspring will not hold the royal blue stripeless trait. Keep as a dedicated colony if maintaining the line matters to you.
Supplement with plant-based pellets, spirulina, and blanched vegetables. Avoid all copper. A varied diet supports both colour and molting health. Check every fertiliser and medication for copper content before use, as copper is fatal to all dwarf shrimp.
Keeper's NoteOERBTs are the best entry point into Caridina keeping for someone coming from Neocaridina. They deliver a genuinely spectacular shrimp, a solid royal blue body with fluorescent orange eyes, without demanding the active substrate and tightly controlled low pH that Taiwan Bee lines require. Remineralised RO water, a stable neutral pH, dark substrate, and plenty of porous hardscape for biofilm is all it takes. Run the tank for three months before stocking, keep the parameters steady, and this is a colony that will establish and hold.
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