The Ricordea, or commonly called Flower Mushroom Coral, is a member of the order Corallimorpharia. It has beautiful features of short, club, or berry-shaped tentacles. It shares some resemblance to stony hard corals, and is also called a Disc Anemone as they are close cousins of both corals and anemones. It is found in a variety of color forms, but green is the most common Ricordia Yuma.
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As such all mushroom corals, also referred to as mushroom anemones, are very hardy corals, proving to be the best option for beginner of reef keeping. Among all the hardy beginner corals, they are most sustainable and can even be preserved well in aquariums with just sand substrate, live rock, and an airstone for water movement and oxygenation. This is for their forbearance to high level of nitrites and other organic compounds which other corals may not accept. Some studies have shown that some specific species of mushroom corals even brighten up in color and show good thriving in an aquarium with low levels of organic compounds. Mostly all mushroom corals have a preference for indirect light or shade hence the VHO fluorescent or metal halide lighting is not obligatory. They all do well in low water current. They will often propagate until they utterly wrap the substrate upon which they grow.
Ricordea Yuma, the green mushroom coral originates from the Indo-Pacific region. They are comparatively less strong as compared to the other mushroom corals. For their fragile nature, it becomes very important to take care of them well. Call it human nature to adore things that are difficult to keep or the attractive looks of Ricordea Yuma, they are highly in demand corals. The attractive color combined with the berry like polyps gives an amazing appearance to these corals. As a customary rule, the appearance of Green Ricordea Mushrooms diverges according to the marine aquarium environment they are housing in.
to the marine aquarium environment they are housing in.
It needs a somewhat medium light level, and metal halide lighting may be too bright. But if you are using metal halide in your tank, you can add Ricordea Yuma to it at a place where light does not fall directly. It will also do well in low lights. It favors a low water movement within the aquarium just as most mushroom corals do, but it may not be as hardy as some of the other mushroom corals. Take special care to prevent it from getting injured as it is delicate to some extent. It is considered semi-aggressive and requires adequate space between itself and other corals. For growth also, they need space.
They make take time in adjusting to the new surroundings when you introduce them to a tank. Ricordea Yuma may contract completely or partially within a few days of being introduced to a new tank. However, that is quite natural and is not a matter to worry about. Very soon, when it had adapted to the new aquarium, it will open up slowly and once it opens up fully, you can rest assured that it is happy with the light and water conditions. Variations in surrounding might lead to some change in color and structure. No matter what, they will not lose their lust and never let you down.
Green Ricordea Mushrooms chiefly get their nourishment from photosynthesis owing to their symbiotic hosting of a type of photosynthetic algae, zooxanthallae. The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within most of the mushroom coral provide the mainstream of their food supplies from the light driven process of photosynthesis. They will also benefit from regular feedings of zooplankton and small meaty items like crustaceans and brine shrimps. During feeding, the spirocysts of Ricordea Yuma catch the prey and the disk draws in so that the food reaches the mouth of the Ricordea Mushrooms.
Green Ricordea Mushrooms reproduce asexually by the process of vertical division, scientifically called as longitudinal fission. It is essential that prior to propagation, Ricordea Yuma connect their polyps to a surface or substrate. Never apply any adhesive on Ricordea Yuma’s flesh directly to attach it artificially as they secrete harmful toxins after propagation.
Temperature: 72 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
Specific gravity: 1.023 to 1.025
ph: 8.10 to 8.40