Two Corals, Same Name, Very Different Animals
Ricordea are some of the prettiest corals available — bubbly, textured tentacles in vivid colours. But ricordea florida and ricordea yuma are very different in care requirements, and many reefers get caught out treating them as interchangeable.
Ricordea Florida
Origin: Caribbean / Atlantic
Rounder, more uniform bubble tentacles. Comes in vivid oranges, electric blues, greens, and multi-colour "rainbow" specimens.
- Light: Moderate (PAR 80-150)
- Flow: Low to moderate, gentle and indirect
- Feeding: Responds well to direct feeding — mysis, reef roids, finely chopped squid once or twice a week
- Hardy and forgiving, splits readily when happy, less expensive than yuma, and settles without much drama
Ricordea Yuma
Origin: Indo-Pacific
More varied tentacle shapes — bubbly, wispy, or hair-like. Colours can be extraordinary: deep purples, vivid reds, striking multi-coloured specimens.
- Light: Moderate, but sensitive to changes in light
- Flow: Low. Strong flow causes detachment
- Placement: Sheltered spots, and then don't move them
- Slow to settle (can wander for weeks), more prone to random decline, slower to split, more expensive, and doesn't ship as well
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | Florida | Yuma |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy-moderate | Moderate-hard |
| Price range | 10-40 | 20-100+ |
| Tentacle style | Uniform bubbles | Varied shapes |
| Colour range | Good | Excellent |
| Growth rate | Moderate | Slow |
| Hardiness | Hardy | Moderate |
| Shipping survival | Good | Fair |
Which to Start With?
Florida, without question. Even for those wanting yumas eventually — learning how ricordea behave with the hardier species first prevents expensive losses.
Tips for Both Species
- Rubble mounting works well — place on rubble in a low-flow container and it'll attach within a week or two
- Minimal handling — mushrooms stress from being touched
- Super glue doesn't work on mushrooms. The tissue is too slimy. Rubble method is better
Browse ricordea and other mushroom corals from UK sellers on Reefsy — ricordea florida ships well within the UK and gorgeous colour morphs turn up regularly from hobbyist collections.
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