3 Assorted Ricordea. We will choose from our available inventory 3 assorted ricordeas. They will be chosen with different variations of color ranging from blue, yellow, green, purple. Ricordia Mushroom Polyps are beautiful corallimorphs which are covered with short tentacles colored in shades of green. They are very easy to keep and will grow, split, and spread throughout the aquarium. They are available as single or multiple polyps attached to a very tiny piece of rock.Corals are part of a biological group known as Cnidaria. Most Cnidaria have a mouth, or mouths, that opens into one big body cavity. Due to the lack of a true digestive system, this cavity acts in its place and after the food is broken down the nutrients are then sent through the rest of the body as food. There is also no excretory system; therefore the waste is sent back through the mouth or secreted into the surrounding water.Tentacles of varying size will usually surround the mouth of Cnidaria. Most Cnidaria have tentacles with stinging cells that can shoot tiny poison darts into their prey or can even be used as a defense mechanism. Some corals lack tentacles and instead cover themselves with a thin layer of mucus and use that to collect bacteria and plankton as food. Some corals even use both of these methods. Cnidaria can either be an individual animal or members of a complex colony. These "Colony Corals" share the food and nutrients taken in by each individual.Corals have tiny living organisms that actually live in their tissue. These are called zooxanthellae and they are the reason why such strong lighting is needed in the saltwater aquarium. These algae-like creatures provide the coral with oxygen and other nutrients that are produced during photosynthesis. During this process, the zooxanthellae take up carbon dioxide and provide nutrients to the coral.Corals can use two different types of defense mechanisms. One of which is a sweeper tentacle wherein the coral reaches its tentacles out to try to damage another coral with nematocysts. The other is when the coral releases a minute amount of toxin into the water to poison another coral within certain proximity. Most "Hard Corals" should not be placed within reach of another coral.Ricordea is a type of mushroom coral of moderate size. It can be identified by the fact that it has contrasting raised dots across its surface.It appears that in general Ricordeas prefer higher lighting. In its natural setting it grows in areas of light, blanketing the rock.It is not necessary to target feed the ricordea, it takes nutrition from the light and from marine snow and other nutrients found in the water.The Ricordea will tolerate many water conditions but appears to do better in water that is low in nitrates and phosphates.The current regulations forbid the collection of Ricordea that are attached to liverock from the Caribbean. Unattached Ricordea however are fair game. Ricordea are not true corals and are related to Anenomes.
