Emily Johnson
Ricordea mushrooms are a highly desirable variety of mushroom coral, sought after for their unique appearance and brilliant variety of colours. They are relatively easy to care for, making them a popular choice for saltwater aquarium enthusiasts and reef chasers. Ricordea mushrooms are photosynthetic and can be fed foods designed for soft corals or generic coral foods. They are found in the Caribbean region, particularly in the waters surrounding the Florida Keys, and can be distinguished from other mushroom corals by their small, bulbous tentacles and roundish bodies. In this article, we will explore how to plant and care for Ricordea mushrooms, highlighting the key considerations for successful cultivation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genus | Ricordea |
| Species | Ricordea florida and Ricordea yuma |
| Appearance | Roundish body with small, bulbous tentacles |
| Diameter | 2 to 3 inches |
| Colors | Blue, green, orange, pink, purple, red, yellow, tan |
| Lighting | Low to moderate |
| Water flow | Low to moderate |
| Food | Plankton, small invertebrates, crustaceans, brine or mysis shrimp |
| Propagation | Longitudinal fission, budding, laceration, division/fission |
| Location | Ricordea yuma: Indo-Pacific region; Ricordea florida: Caribbean region |
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What You'll Learn
Ricordea mushrooms are photosynthetic
Ricordea mushrooms, also known as flower mushrooms, are a popular choice for saltwater aquarium hobbyists due to their ease of care and vibrant colourations. They are considered photosynthetic because of the symbiotic zooxanthellae living within their body tissues.
The zooxanthellae are single-celled organisms that carry out the photosynthetic operations, and in exchange for their home, they share the sugar (glucose) they produce with the Ricordea. This symbiotic relationship is thought to provide the majority of the mushroom's nutrition. However, it is important to note that Ricordea are animals, and they also consume plankton and small invertebrates such as crustaceans, brine, and mysis shrimp.
Ricordea mushrooms have a unique, bubble-like appearance with round bodies covered in small, bulbous tentacles. They are usually 2 to 3 inches in diameter and come in a wide variety of colour combinations, including blues, greens, oranges, pinks, purples, reds, yellows, and tans. They are often distinguished by the orientation of their tentacles, with Ricordea yuma having a large concentration of tentacles surrounding its mouth, while Ricordea florida has a smaller group of tentacles isolated from its mouth.
In terms of care, Ricordea mushrooms prefer low to moderate water flow and lighting. They tend to attach themselves to rocks and reproduce and spread quickly, so providing them with adequate space to grow is essential. While they have a mild sting, they can be placed in direct contact with other Ricordea mushrooms without causing coral warfare. Their lighting requirements can be met with moderately bright lighting, typically above 50 PAR, as they are not deepwater species and frequent shallow waters in the wild.
Overall, Ricordea mushrooms are a desirable addition to saltwater aquariums due to their striking appearance, ease of care, and photosynthetic capabilities.
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They are easy to care for
Ricordea mushrooms are a popular choice for saltwater aquarium enthusiasts due to their ease of care and vibrant colourations. They are considered photosynthetic, deriving their nutrition from the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within each coral. This means that they can meet all their energy needs from aquarium lighting, although they can also be fed soft coral food to speed up their growth rate.
Ricordea mushrooms prefer low to moderate water flow and low to moderate lighting conditions, with anything above 50 PAR being suitable. They do not like heavy water movement and will detach and float around the tank if exposed to too much light or water movement. They can be placed in direct contact with other Ricordea mushrooms without any fear of coral warfare, although they should be given enough space to prevent their mild sting from affecting more delicate corals.
Ricordea mushrooms are usually placed on rocks, as they prefer attaching to rocky substrates. They reproduce and spread relatively quickly, so it is recommended to put them on their own rock separate from the main rock work. They can also be propagated by cutting individual polyps into several pieces and placing them on a gravel substrate with low water flow. They will then attach themselves to the pieces of gravel and can be super-glued to a suitable substrate.
Ricordea mushrooms are available in a wide variety of colour combinations, including blues, greens, oranges, pinks, purples, reds, yellows, and tans. Their roundish bodies are covered in small, bulbous tentacles, and they usually grow to be about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. They are considered hardy and easy to maintain, making them an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced aquarists.
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Ricordea florida vs. Ricordea yuma
Ricordea mushrooms are a popular choice for saltwater aquarium hobbyists due to their ease of care and vibrant colouration. They are also known as flower mushroom corals or corallimorphs. They are photosynthetic and derive nutrition from their symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae.
Ricordea mushrooms are generally easy to maintain, but there are two distinct species within the genus: Ricordea florida and Ricordea yuma. While they share many similarities, there are some key differences to note.
One of the most noticeable differences between the two species is their appearance. Ricordea yuma tends to have a large concentration of tentacles surrounding its mouth, while Ricordea florida's mouth is usually smaller and isolated from any tentacles. Additionally, Ricordea florida's tentacles may exhibit rings of colours, while Ricordea yuma typically has alternating rows of large and small tentacles radiating outwards from the mouth. Ricordea yuma also differs in that it usually lacks the distinctive bubbles on its surface, except on the edge, whereas Ricordea florida is covered in bubbles.
In terms of care, both species have similar lighting and flow requirements and enjoy medium to high light due to their natural habitat in shallow waters. However, Ricordea yuma is more sensitive to water quality and tank parameters, making it more challenging to maintain in the long term. It is also more temperamental and may not have the same long-term success as Ricordea florida. Therefore, for beginners, Ricordea florida is often recommended due to its hardiness and impressive coloration.
Both species of Ricordea mushrooms are found in a variety of colour combinations, including blues, greens, oranges, pinks, purples, reds, yellows, and tans. They are known for their roundish bodies, growing to about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. They prefer low to moderate water flow and attach themselves to rocks. They reproduce and spread relatively quickly, so it is important to give them space to grow without encroaching on other corals in the tank.
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Lighting and water flow
Ricordea mushrooms are a popular choice for reef aquarium hobbyists due to their brilliant colours and ease of care. They are a type of anemone and do not have a calcium carbonate skeleton, and therefore do not require extreme maintenance of calcium and alkalinity.
Lighting
Ricordea mushrooms tend to enjoy medium to high light due to normally growing in shallow waters where they are exposed to more light in the wild. This amount of light will allow them to develop their brilliant colours. Low light is typically considered to be 30-50 PAR, medium light is between 50-150 PAR, and high light is anything over 150 PAR. It is important to note that lighting is a loaded topic and the specific lighting needs of Ricordea mushrooms may vary depending on the species and the lighting setup of the individual aquarium. If the mushrooms appear pale or haven't extended fully, they may be receiving too much light.
Water Flow
Ricordea mushrooms prefer low to moderate water flow. High water flow can strain their tentacles, causing them to retract as a preservation technique. In extreme cases, high water flow can cause the mushrooms to detach from their anchor point and blow around in the aquarium. The ideal water flow will allow the mushrooms to extend their tentacles and feed on Artemia (brine shrimp), Mysis shrimp, and other zooplankton.
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How to propagate them
Ricordea mushrooms are a highly desirable type of coral due to their unique appearance and variety of colour combinations. They are easy to propagate, but can sometimes multiply slowly in captivity. Here are some ways to propagate them:
Division or Fission:
This is a commonly observed method in which an individual Ricordea divides down the centre and forms two new polyps. They start developing multiple mouths and pinch in the centre, eventually separating into two polyps. This is a natural process and the preferred method for those who do not want to cut their Ricordea.
Asexual budding:
This is where new individuals are formed from particles divided off from the pedal disc.
Laceration:
Similar to budding, laceration occurs when Ricordea slowly move over a surface and leave behind small pieces of their "foot" or "pedal disc", which will eventually form into new mushrooms. This method can be encouraged by increasing water flow and lighting, causing the Ricordea to move and leave bits of its foot behind.
Cutting:
Ricordea can also be manually cut into halves or quarters with surgical-grade scissors. This method has been shown to work best when the Ricordea has a bit of gravel attached to its foot and no frag plug. After cutting, the pieces can be placed on a gravel substrate with low water flow, and they will attach themselves to the gravel. They can then be super-glued to a suitable substrate, such as a reef plug.
It is worth noting that Ricordea mushrooms prefer attaching to rocks and reproduce and spread quickly. Therefore, it is recommended to put them on their own rock, separate from the main rock work in a tank. Additionally, they are photosynthetic and will use aquarium lighting to meet their energy needs, but they can also be fed soft coral food to speed up their growth rate.
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Frequently asked questions
Ricordea Mushrooms are a type of coral that belongs to the Corallimorpharia Order. They are not true corals and are closely related to anemones and both hard and soft corals. They are distinct in appearance with round bodies covered in small, bulbous tentacles and are usually about 2 to 3 inches in diameter.
Ricordea Mushrooms can be planted by attaching them to rocks or coral reefs. They can be placed in direct contact with other Ricordea Mushrooms without fear of coral warfare. However, they should be given enough space to prevent their mild sting from affecting more delicate corals.
Ricordea Mushrooms prefer low to moderate lighting. A range of 50-150 PAR is recommended, with anything above 50 PAR considered moderately bright. They are usually found in shallow waters and exposed to more light in the wild.
Ricordea Mushrooms reproduce by splitting or longitudinal fission. They develop multiple mouths and pinch in the centre, eventually separating into two polyps. They can also be propagated by cutting individual polyps into several pieces and placing them on a gravel substrate with low water flow.
