By Blane Perun
Florida Ricordea Rate: (24 Ratings)
Florida Ricordea mushroom coral are quite colorful and are native to the Caribbean. They require intense aquarium lighting to remain bright and beautiful in your reef aquarium. Since the Florida Ricordea is native to the Caribbean it is necessary to have extremely strong lighting if you want the Florida ricordea to be vibrant and beautiful in your aquarium.
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The Florida Ricordea is actually a close
relative of Ricordea Yuma. However, the Ricordea Yuma is unlike
the Florida Ricordea in the fact that it does not do well in
strong aquarium lighting. Also, the Florida Ricordea is smaller.
These
mushrooms have vibrant colors of various intensities. The
colors are strong and will benefit any aquarium.
The Ricordia Yuma is not like the Ricordea Florida appearance wise. It is usually orange or green and very rarely has hot pink or deep red hues. Even vibrant Ricordea Yuma coral will melt away under strong aquarium lighting, the same lighting that is needed to sustain the Florida Ricordea. This photo shows a Ricordia Florida I have been cultivating for many years. The Florida Ricordea is kept under four inches of water with a 250w metal halide.
Expect Florida Ricordea to live many years
in a reef aquarium. This coral may
burn other corals should direct
contact be made, but otherwise it is compatible with most other
types of live coral as well as reef fish.
The Florida Ricordea feeds through photosynthesis. This process simply converts light, water, and carbon dioxide into the necessary nutrients for survival. Filter feeding is also an option for the Florida Ricordea. Tiny particles of food are captured with spirocysts and then the food is taken to the mouth with the disk.
The cost of the Florida Ricordea coral is more affordable than Ricordea Yuma and usually more available. The photos above of the Florida Ricordea are cultivated at my aqua farm 100%. Don’t forget about the aquarium lighting and the role it will play in your Florida Ricordea coloration. If you are just starting and on a budget it makes sense to begin with Florida Ricordea simply because the price is so much more affordable and it is just easier to find overall. Once your Florida ricordea is successful then you can move on to Ricordea Yuma and justify the cost.