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Florida ricordea
Ricordea florida
Florida ricordea: marine corallimorfo in the family Ricordeidae, included for reef role, behavior, or aquarium utility. Geographical Origin and Habitat: The Florida Ricordea (*Ricordea...
Class:Anthozoa
Order:Corallimorpharia
Family:Ricordeidae
Genus:Ricordea
Species:Ricordea florida
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Water Temperature
24 - 28 °C
pH Value
8.1 - 8.4
Water type
Marine
Minimum group
>= 1
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: The Florida Ricordea (*Ricordea florida*) is a highly sought-after, spectacularly colored Corallimorph natively endemic to the warm, sunlit, shallow coral reefs and rocky coastal zones of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Florida Keys. Their natural biotope is defined by highly illuminated, relatively shallow rocky substrates where they form dense, sprawling colonies, often dominating horizontal rock shelves exposed to moderate tidal currents.
Taxonomy: Scientifically classified within the Ricordeidae family, they occupy an evolutionary position between true sea anemones and stony corals, completely lacking a hard skeleton. Morphologically, they are distinguished from smooth *Discosoma* mushrooms by their highly textured surface. The broad, fleshy oral disc is densely covered in tightly packed, short, spherical or club-shaped tentacles (often described as resembling bubble-wrap or tiny grapes), with a distinct central mouth.
Social Behavior: They are sessile, peaceful, but highly territorial invertebrates. Unlike *Euphyllia* corals, they do not possess long, stinging sweeper tentacles, making them relatively safe for neighboring corals. However, they are aggressive space colonizers. They reproduce asexually and will slowly but relentlessly encrust over the rockwork, forming a dense carpet that can physically smother slower-growing or encrusting stony corals if their expansion is not managed.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Sexual dimorphism is non-existent due to their clonal reproduction. Their coloration is the primary reason for their immense popularity; they are among the most vibrantly colored organisms in the ocean. The bubble-like tentacles can present in solid, contrasting, or multi-ringed patterns of blinding neon green, electric blue, fiery orange, bright yellow, and deep purple. Under actinic blue LED lighting, they exhibit intense, breathtaking fluorescence.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Guidance about aquarium setup for Ricordea florida must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Feeding and Diet: Guidance about feeding and diet for Ricordea florida must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Water Quality: Guidance about water quality for Ricordea florida must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Compatibility and Coexistence: Guidance about compatibility and coexistence for Ricordea florida must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Aquarium Breeding: Guidance about aquarium breeding for Ricordea florida must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Risks and Disease: Guidance about risks and disease for Ricordea florida must rely exclusively on the parameters and sources listed on this record.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
The Florida Ricordea (*Ricordea florida*) is a highly sought-after, spectacularly colored Corallimorph natively endemic to the warm, sunlit, shallow coral reefs and rocky coastal zones of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Florida Keys. Their natural biotope is defined by highly illuminated, relatively shallow rocky substrates where they form dense, sprawling colonies, often dominating horizontal rock shelves exposed to moderate tidal currents.
Origin
Tropical oceans and reefsCentral America and CaribbeanNorth America
Invertebrate profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Ecological role
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- No verified data available
- Jump risk
- No verified data available
- Shock sensitivity
- No verified data available
- Calcium and minerals
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Compatibility & tankmates
- No verified data available
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
