Ricordea Florida Care Guide
Ricordea florida is a Caribbean corallimorph mushroom with bead-like tentacles, hosting zooxanthellae and reproducing by fission in reef tanks.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Ricordea florida is a corallimorph (false coral) of the order Corallimorpharia. It lacks a skeleton but has internal anatomy similar to hard corals, with a disc-like base and an oral disc bearing short, rounded, bead-like tentacles that contain cnidocytes; its stinging ability is relatively low. Colours include purple, orange, green, blue and yellow, often with differently coloured tentacle tips, and it fluoresces under UV light.
Taxonomy
- Family: Ricordeidae
- Genus: Ricordea
- Scientific name: Ricordea florida
- Authority: Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860
Habitat
The species is found in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, inhabiting reef interiors, shallow waters, rocky areas and pools, typically alone or in small groups. Tentacle colour can vary with depth, temperature, season and environment.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Salinity: SG 1.024-1.026
- Carbonate hardness: 8-12 dKH
- Placement: on rockwork; low to moderate light and gentle flow
Diet
Ricordea florida hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae that photosynthesise and supply most of its energy. It also feeds on zooplankton, occasionally captured small prey and dissolved organic matter.
Reproduction
Asexual reproduction occurs by fission (splitting) and by laceration, in which foot fragments develop into new individuals; sexual reproduction produces planula larvae.
Conservation status
NatureServe assessment: Vulnerable.
Ricordea florida Breeding Guide: Asexual Propagation
Overview
Ricordea florida is a corallimorph in the order Corallimorpharia, family Ricordeidae. Unlike true stony corals it lacks a calcareous skeleton, yet it shares the same internal anatomy as scleractinian corals. It occurs in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, on reef interiors in shallow rocky areas and tide pools, usually alone or in small groups.
Reproductive Mode
Ricordea florida reproduces by two routes. In nature it can reproduce sexually, releasing gametes that develop into a swimming planula larva. In the reef aquarium it spreads mainly by asexual cloning, which is what hobbyists exploit through deliberate fragging.
Asexual Propagation
Two asexual mechanisms are documented. In fission the polyp splits along its mouth, producing a genetically identical clone. In pedal laceration, particulates released from the foot can develop into a new specimen. Hobbyist fragging mimics these processes: a healthy polyp is cut into sections, each retaining mouth or foot tissue, and left to heal and reattach to live rock or a frag plug under stable, well-lit conditions.
- Select a large, fully expanded, healthy polyp.
- Cut cleanly through the oral disc so each piece keeps part of the mouth, or detach foot tissue for laceration-style propagation.
- Place cut pieces in low-flow, indirect light until tissue heals and reattaches.
- Resume normal flow and lighting once the new polyps anchor and regain shape.
Sexual Reproduction
Sexual reproduction yields a planula larva that, once it settles on the seabed, develops into a new individual. This pelagic, broadcast-style pathway is essentially never reproduced in home aquaria, where the controlled fission and laceration of fragging is the practical method of increasing colonies.