Range: Tropical Western Atlantic Ocean: Southern Florida to Brazil, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean

Natural Environment: This soft coral is usually found encrusting substrates of various kinds (rocky areas and dead coral rubble) in shallow coastal environments where currents are fairly swift. Numerous colors or combinations of colors, sometimes quite iridescent, are available, e.g., orange, blue, green, yellow, and/or purple, depending upon area of origin. Some have outer rings of blue, purple, or orange.

General Husbandry: These mostly photosynthetic corals, which are approximately 2 – 3 inches (5 – 7.5 cm) in diameter, are among the easiest of all corals to maintain because they do better in somewhat nutrient rich surroundings. They are not true anemones, nor are they true corals, however, they are somewhere in between or more appropriately a comparative anatomy or simply put, a morph.

Ricordea family members, of which there are only two (The above shown species, and R. yuma, hailing from the Tropical Indo-Pacific) have a surface area that is usually covered with short, bubble-like tentacles. They are fairly shallow water members and need strong light and swift water movement, which are requirements opposite those of other members in this Order. However, R. yuma is not as colorful as R. florida and comes from slightly deeper waters.

Keep in mind that even though the majority of its nutrition mainly comes from its ability to photosensitize, this animal has short tentacles and is also a suspension feeder. And as with any animal with tentacles, they can be fed. Those in my aquariums have responded nicely to zooplankton-like foods such as Cyclop-eeze and baby brine shrimp. Be aware they can damage other corals if they touch them, therefore allow sufficient space between it and other corals. Generally hardy, disease resistant, and fairly fast growing if provided the necessary foodstuffs, proper water movement and light intensity. I have used a Marc Weiss product called ‘Combo-Vital’ and had excellent results with it.

Water quality requirements are: Calcium 380 – 430 ppm, Alkalinity 3.5 meq/l, pH 8.1 – 8.2, Specific Gravity 1.025, and a temperature range of 72 to 83°F (22 – 28°C). Iodine additives, used as their manufacturers recommend, also seem to have a positive effect on these so-called "mushroom" corals.