Florida Ricordia
Getting Started with Florida Ricordia. Ricordia corals belong to one of two groups- florida ricordia or yuma ricordia. The florida ricordia comes in a wide range of color combinations, including pink, orange, blue, green and red.
Florida Ricordia Facts
An interesting fact about the florida ricordia is that many of the corals feature multiple mouths- an excellent advantage when it comes to filter feeding. A relative of the anemone, the florida ricordia is also known as a mushroom coral, false coral, and mushroom anemone. Interestingly enough, the florida ricordia is not even a real coral, and is more similar to its relative the anemone than other large polyp stony corals.
Florida Ricordia Lighting
When kept in an artificial environment, it is best to provide low to medium strength of water flow and circulation to maintain the health of the florida ricordia. Lighting, however, is a different story. The florida ricordia has the ability to adjust to a wide variety of lighting types, including T5, power compact, VHO, or metal halide, although many aqua culturists will swear by metal halides exclusively for their florida ricordia specimens.
Florida Ricordia Coloration
Although no two florida ricordia corals are identical, blue or green colored florida ricordias seem to have a preference for lower light levels than orange or pink florida ricordia corals. With access to fluorescent lighting, the coloring of florida ricordia corals is extremely vivid and can be quite breathtaking.
Florida Ricordia Feeding
All florida ricordia obtain a large majority of energy from the symbiotic algae that coexists in the corals tissue. The microscopic algae, zooxanthellae, use lighting sources to trigger photosynthesis and provide the florida ricordia with nutrients and energy. There is much debate as to whether or not supplemental, or spot, feedings are beneficial to florida ricordia. If you choose to offer the florida ricordia additional nutrients, zooplankton and artemia are optimal choices. Florida ricordia corals should not be feed more than twice a week- some may thrive with one to two spot feedings per month.
Florida Ricordia Very Hardy
Florida ricordia are of interest to aqua enthusiasts because of their hardy nature, low maintenance, and most of all, attractive appearance. One thing to keep on your radar is the close proximity of other live coral and specimens that share the tank with florida ricordia. The florida ricordia can be semi aggressive, and uses chemical warfare as a defense mechanism if feeling threatened. This can be prevented by allowing ample amount of space around the florida ricordia.
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