Ricordea corallimorphs are the most colorful, and quite possibly some of the most beautiful mushroom anemones.
Ricordea Florida, one of the most colorful corallimorphs.
There are two species commonly found in the marine aquarium hobby, Ricordea Florida and Ricordea Yuma. Especially the colorful varieties tend to be rather expensive, especially for a soft coral.
This Ricordea Yuma is one of the corals that I had since I started reef keeping and I still have it.
Ricordea Yuma propagates by pedal laceration — by leaving pieces of its foot behind as it moves which in turn develop into full animals — and if the conditions are right it spreads quickly all over a tank.
Both Ricordeas are colorful, especially Ricordea Florida specimens tend to have tentacles of different color on the same animal, although it is not unheard of for a Ricordea Yuma to also have tentacles of different color.
The actual colors and the contrast between them vary depending on lighting and water parameters.
It is a close up of an animal from the same Ricordea Yuma colony, just a few years ago.
The coloration of the animal changes based on lighting and water chemistry.
Ricordea Yuma specimens are usually round with one mouth opening in the middle. Most Ricordea Florida specimens I have seen looked like multiple disks — usually two, sometimes three — not fully separated, each with its own mouth. Of course later on these can fully separate and become individual animals.
Another color variation of Ricordea Florida.
Observe that multiple mouth openings.
Over the years I had different Ricordea Florida varieties in my tank, but they do tend to be somewhat sensitive, and seem to require more intensive lighting. Many of them died. Currently I only have one piece in a really small set up.
This Ricordea Florida has been living in my pico reef tank for the last year or so.
The above Ricordea Florida after it was moved to my big reef tank.
The green Ricordea Yuma colony, on the other hand, seems to tolerate almost any conditions. They have even survived the three day long power blackout in 2013, although many of them got bleached, they did recover afterwards and are still thriving.
Having survived a major disaster these Ricordea Yuma polyps are still reproducing in my reef tank, spreading quickly all over the rocks.
Ricordeas are photosynthetic and need light, although they are not nearly as demanding as hard corals, or even some of the soft corals are. Ricordeas also like to eat small marine creatures that they can capture with their tentacles and stuff into their mouth. They will even eat dry fish food.
Further Readings:
Predatory Ricordea yuma comes to life in time lapse feeding video
Ricordea Yuma – the pretty easy coral Reefland.com.