Id?

[usatennisfan]

Can anyone ID these mushrooms for me and give me some general care tips? I really wanted the Xenia on the same rock but this was the same price so I figured why not. Any help would be great. Thanks.

 

[israel.kendall]

Looks like Ricordea Florida to me. Pretty easy to care for, I give mine moderate to low flow (just don't want them flapping around too much). They will catch things out of the water column and eat just about anything. I've seen one of mine even eat formula one pellets! I spot feed mine occasionally, mysis, cyclops, brine, etc.

 

[usatennisfan]

That's what I was thinking too but a second opinion never hurts. What do you think I should do about placement of the rock? There are two mushrooms on the rock as well as a small colony of Xenia. Pretty opposite requirements as to care, i.e. water flow, lighting and placement within a system. Right now I have it pretty close to the side of the water column with the mushrooms facing away from it so they really don't flap really at all. Do you think the rock would be better placed elsewhere or should I frag it and separate them?

 

[israel.kendall]

I wish I could help you out with placement, but if I gave any advice it would really only be a guess. Both Xenia and Ricordea Florida seem to be rather forgiving so I wouldn't be surprised if you could find a happy medium for the two species.

 

[scuba guy ron]

its ricordea florida. they are a lowlight coral. they should be placed at the bottom of the tank or near a shaded overhang. I've kept them for over 5 years and have never seen nor heard of them catching anything out of the water column or eating for that matter. they do not need feedings. they can and will sting the xenia.

Make sure you really wat that xenia by the way, if it survives through the acclimation period it can grow to plague proportions in your tank, gowing directly on and over other corals shading them to death that dont sting it.

 

[usatennisfan]

I really want all of my corals. Ran, do you think that fragging would be the best idea for both corals and try to keep the Xenia contained, if at all possible...?

 

[scuba guy ron]

absolutely

 

[usatennisfan]

I've never fragged anything before; what's the best way to go about doing so? And is it even possible to keep Xenia contained to a certain area of a tank or do you just have to kill off the new stalks that grow from the mother colony??

 

[israel.kendall]

I've kept them for over 5 years and have never seen nor heard of them catching anything out of the water column or eating for that matter. they do not need feedings.

While I'm sure they can do fine without targeted feeding, I choose to feed mine. Here is a series of pics of one of my rics catching and eating a formula one pellet (so now you can say that yes, you have heard of it and seen it!):

 

[usatennisfan]

If you look at those pictures bottom to top it kinda looks like slow motion vomiting...