Pictures of Ricordea in the ocean Part 2

[DaveBien]

I'm visiting my daughter in Boca next week. I need to do some research and scouting regarding zoa and recordia collection. Those are the new tank's focus. I've read about needing a fishing lic and no attached rock etc. I just need to actually talk to someone down there about this for another trip. I was a certified SCUBA diver yrs ago so shallow snorkeling shouldn't be a problem. I just want to do things correctly. Besides jail doesn't suit me... LOL.

Thanks

 

[Zman42]

I'm so jealous that you get to see them in the wild, all we see in KY are rabbits and deer...have you tried putting one of those in your tank??????....lol

 

[Dustin1300]

I cannot wait to dive again. I got my PADI open water this summer and loved diving. My diving in Jamaica was not the best but an eye opening experience. Made me realize how much taking coral from it's environment can really take away from the beauty. I have now said I will only by frags/aquacultured coral because I don't want to support ones still pulling from the oceans for profit. They should rather figure ways to "farm" the coral and not take away from environment! Anyways, great pics of the rics...I just put some rics in my aquarium about month ago and have gotten both rics to get 2 mouths and 3 mouths. Can't wait for them to split!

 

[Dustin1300]

And just to comment on the "great pictures" comments! Once you've dove you realize how different of a world it is down below....Our aquariums will never match the natural beauty! You could take pics with a cheap underwater camera and be satisfied! I'm not saying you did not take GREAT PICS, but I was just commenting on how amazing it is....EVERY ONE GO GET YOUR PADI!

 

[Speckled Grouper]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13543759#post13543759 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zman42
I'm so jealous that you get to see them in the wild, all we see in KY are rabbits and deer...have you tried putting one of those in your tank??????....lol

A rabbit and a deer? But of course....

Here's my Rabbit

And my Deer...

.....Cowrie that is....

 

[Speckled Grouper]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13549019#post13549019 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dustin1300
And just to comment on the "great pictures" comments! Once you've dove you realize how different of a world it is down below....Our aquariums will never match the natural beauty! You could take pics with a cheap underwater camera and be satisfied! I'm not saying you did not take GREAT PICS, but I was just commenting on how amazing it is....EVERY ONE GO GET YOUR PADI!

And I agree whole heartedly with you...no picture in the world can do justice to the experience and the sights you see while diving.

 

[Zman42]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13549020#post13549020 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Speckled Grouper
A rabbit and a deer? But of course....

Here's my Rabbit

And my Deer...

.....Cowrie that is....

Man, I set myself up for that one!

 

[captstinky]

Very sweet.

 

[Cody Ray]

I still haven't gone on an actual diving trip since I became certified... Now I know where I will be going this summer!

 

[Terra Ferma]

Your pics are fantastic - I have looked for pics of rics in the wild for years. These are the first I have seen on the internet. Many thanks.

 

[AB-Bug]

i need to get back in the water soon

 

[AB-Bug]

what depth were those pics taken at

 

[AB-Bug]

im so jealous

 

[Speckled Grouper]

This is 25 to 30 feet down.

 

[hefeweizan]

My friend has a house down in Cudjoe Key, where can i go snorkeling or dinving around there to see reefs like that?

Mike

 

[Speckled Grouper]

You won't see this snorkling. Ricordeas can be found around the Coral Heads and Patch Reefs a few miles out.

 

[shadowz40]

man that would be awesome to see naturally in the wild!

 

[mrgreenthumb]

wow stunning pics thanks for sharing!!

 

[happyclam]

Any more pics? So far I've caught that ricordea, zoanthids, and gorgonians (the commonly available Florodian corals) are normally found on the inshore patch reefs and coral heads and at approx. 30' depth. You also said you can only find green rics in the inshore zone? Do you mean that to find the blue and orange rics you have to go the fore reef or something? Sorry, I'm a little confused, still trying to master reef zones. Also, what fish do you normally see around the patch reefs? Have you ever seen a group of Chalk Bass or Blue Reef Chromis? The reason for these questions is that now after seeing how beautiful the Floridian reefs are, I would like to set up a Floridian/Carribbean/Bahamas biotope reef.
Keep the pics rollin'!

 

[philter4]

Great photos, it gives you a better view of where these animals come from.

I used to collect for a living, and I still collect all of my own fish and inverts, I've seen rics and zoos in ankle deep water and down to 60 feet depending on the right habitat. Some of the non photo synthetic octocorals (sea fans/gorgonians) are very common in 5 to 10 ft. Mostly depth isn't as important as the substrate, like GrouperHead says, the sand is just silt over the hard bottom so you don't actually see the reef structure under it.

As far as seeing it for yourselves, there is nothing to compare to it, I like diving more then having my tanks, it is just amazing what you see and how different it is then even the most "natural" looking reef in person or photos.

Something to consider when placing these animals in your tanks, there is more light available to these animals at 100 ft deep on a sunny day then at 18 inch under metal halides in your tanks. They can adapt as long as the min. light requirements are met.