Why is my Florida Ricordea shrinking and refusing to open?

This is often a response to excessive water flow, lighting that is too intense, or rapidly fluctuating water parameters. Try relocating the mushroom to a shaded, lower-flow area of the tank and ensure your salinity and temperature are stable.

Do I need to feed my Ricordea coral?

While they can survive entirely on the energy produced by their internal algae through photosynthesis, target feeding them small meaty foods like reef roe or zooplankton once a week will dramatically improve their growth rate and colour.

Can Florida Ricordea sting my other corals?

Yes, they possess nematocysts (stinging cells) and will slowly sting and damage neighbouring corals that they touch. Always leave an inch or two of clearance around them to allow for growth and prevent territorial aggression.

How do I attach a loose Ricordea to a rock?

Ricordea are notoriously difficult to glue directly because they produce a lot of slime. The easiest method is to place the loose polyp in a small plastic container filled with coarse rubble in a low-flow area of the tank; it will naturally attach to a piece of rubble within a week or two, which can then be glued to your main aquascape.

What is the difference between Ricordea florida and Ricordea yuma?

Ricordea florida has distinct, uniform bubble-like vesicles that rarely cover the mouth area, and it originates from the Caribbean. Ricordea yuma hails from the Indo-Pacific and features alternating sizes of vesicles that typically extend right up to and cover the central mouth.

MarineCoralsBeginner

Florida Ricordea

Ricordea florida

The Florida Ricordea is a spectacularly colourful and deeply textured corallimorph, making it a highly prized, beginner-friendly addition to the marine aquarium.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 24 – 27 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
Salinity: 1.024 – 1.026 SG
Adult size: 4 – 8 cm
Nano reef: 20 litres+
Lifespan: 5 – 15 years
Diet: Primarily photosynthetic, but thrives when supplemented with zooplankton and fine meaty foods.
Water flow: Low to moderate; strong flow may cause the coral to detach.
Preferred setup: Established marine aquarium with mature live rock or rubble for attachment.

About the Florida Ricordea

Often loosely referred to as a mushroom coral, Ricordea florida is scientifically classified as a corallimorph. This group bridges the morphological gap between stony corals and sea anemones. Characterised by a flattened oral disc blanketed in short, bubble-like tentacles, this resilient invertebrate is a vibrant staple in the reef-keeping hobby. It flourishes in a dazzling array of neon shades, including green, blue, orange, yellow, and pink, all of which fluoresce spectacularly under blue-spectrum actinic lighting.

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Is it right for your tank?

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Where Florida Ricordea comes from

Native range

Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Western Atlantic Ocean

Countries / regions

United States, Bahamas, Cuba, Mexico

Habitat

Shallow coastal reefs, rocky overhangs, and rubble zones with moderate water movement.

Most specimens in the trade are aquacultured or sustainably collected from the Florida Keys and Caribbean.

Similar species

Yuma Ricordea
Ricordea yuma
Rhodactis Mushroom
Rhodactis spp.
Discosoma Mushroom
Discosoma spp.

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Peaceful, reef-safe fish that will occasionally adopt large mushroom corals as a substitute host anemone without harming them.
Great
Zoanthids
Zoanthus spp.
Require similar lighting and flow conditions, though they should be spaced sufficiently to prevent competition for space.
Great
Peppermint Shrimp
Lysmata wurdemanni
While generally safe and useful for Aiptasia control, some individuals may develop a taste for fleshy corallimorphs.
Compatible with caution
Galaxea Coral
Galaxea fascicularis
Produces long, highly aggressive sweeper tentacles that can easily reach and severely sting the Ricordea.
Compatible with caution
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Chaetodon lunula
Notorious coral grazers that will readily consume corallimorphs and soft corals.
Not recommended

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