Sick rics

[jetty]

http://maast.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=16&pictureid=1439

These are rics aren't they? Pic taken after one day in my tank.

The tank is a 40B. Lighting is 2 ATI Blue+, 1 ATI Aquablue special, and 1 GE daylight. All water parameters are good. All other coral doing great. Rics are at the bottom of the tank in little water flow.

After a couple of days in my tank the rics started looking bad and a smaller one had dropped off the rock. So I moved them back a little to knock some of the light off. They started to look even worse and another one on the back of the rock was barely hanging on. I pulled them back into a little more light, but it only got worse. They are now sitting completely under a rock in the shade. They looked better this morning, but are still not doing well at all. They keep contorting themselves constantly. These are rics, correct? Do I need to leave them alone? Give them more light? They don't seem to be satisfied in shade or under light so far. Thanks.

[bjgf15]

Those look like Ricordea yuma (from Indo Pacific) to me and are known to be much more tricky to keep in captivity than Ricordea florida (from Caribbean). Yumas either tend to do great and grow with no problems or die in a short period of time. I tend to stay away from Yumas unless they are captive propagated.

[allan]

Those are ricordias, and a nice photo as well.

Mine are kept at the bottom of the tank and is one of the few that I don't mind if they sit somewhat in the shade as they seem to do a bit better for me in low light.

I don't know what to make of them falling off their perch though.

How long have you had them in your tank? Just two days ("couple")? Or up to a week? I've had to let stuff sit for awhile thinking "Okay, that's what they look like" and then suddenly one day they would sprout polyps or super inflate.

[Europhyllia]

Those look like Ricordea yuma (from Indo Pacific) to me and are known to be much more tricky to keep in captivity than Ricordea florida (from Caribbean). Yumas either tend to do great and grow with no problems or die in a short period of time. I tend to stay away from Yumas unless they are captive propagated.
Wow that is interesting. I am ready to come out of the closet then as far as my Ric killing goes!
I always heard rics were easy and got a nice yuma - and it died rather quickly on me. Just seemed to melt away. I haven't tried anymore since then...
will be interesting to hear how to keep them doing well (or at least what kinds to get)

[jetty]

They been in the tank for almost 2 weeks now, Allen. I can hardly stand to look at them now, they just look like they are dying. My other rics are fine, but a different sp, of course. I will do a more research on yuma. Thanks for the info.

[jetty]

The concensus is that these are yumas. I pushed them as much in the shade as I could. I don't think the big ones are going to make it (thanks to my ignorance), but we'll see. The are some smaller ones that look to be ok for now. Thanks all.

[bjgf15]

You're not alone in bad experiences with Yumas...

http://www.reeferscafe.com/corallimorpharia/2423-rate-my-yumas.html

My suggestion to anyone wanting yumas is to get captive propagated ones or only buy ones that have been in captivity for several months.

A much better alternative are Ultra Ricordea florida... ;)

[jetty]

"A much better alternative are Ultra Ricordea florida... ;) "

I'll be all over that this weekend....
Been waiting a while for some more of those.

[Europhyllia]

You're not alone in bad experiences with Yumas...

http://www.reeferscafe.com/corallimorpharia/2423-rate-my-yumas.html

;)

That stinks. The place I bought my yuma from told me they needed a lot more light than mushrooms so I probably scorched mine. :(

[GoneReefing]

Those are definitely yumas as they have the lil bumps on their mouth. I thought they were as easy as mushrooms, didn't know that people had so many issues. Mine are right on the sand bed next to a rock and they are rockin :). Mine love the light.

How's other coral doing in your tank? Are all the params in check? When I got my frag I put it on the side of a rock about mid way up. It fell off the rock and landed on another piece, I just left it laying and it took a foot. It grew insanely large, like 3" across.

Then I got the courage to frag it, I chisled it off then sliced it into quarters. They healed like after 6 weeks (Full circles). Where I chisled off there laid three little heads. So off one frag and some time and a propagation I now have 8 rics yumas. :)

My advice jetta would be the same as the comments as members have mention plus this, if they haven't melted away, give them a chance. With the mention of mine taken a foot on the rock it took it a few days. Once they do leave them be for awhile, before thinking to frag any.

Good luck.

Gotta a pic of mine at http://maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=56890 (7th pic down)

Will be putting some into the frag exchange soon!

[jetty]

Nice pics gonereefing. They are still hanging (literally) in there. Still look bad but no worse than earlier. Still have hope for them. Water params are good, as are all other coral.

I am going to leave them in the dark for a while. 2 of the smaller ones (less than dime sized) that jumped rock are doing ok even though they are not completely shaded.

[GoneReefing]

Think positive, and they should pull thru :)

[timmytimtim]

I have a BUNCH of these and they are at the highest point in my tank. I have 4 T5 bulbs, 2 blue 2 power glo. One is the size of a softball. I don't really know what is making them grow so well, but they are cover covering a rock like wall paper. I feed the tank coral frenzy every two or three days, but thats it.

I hope yours pull through..if not let me know and I can get you a nice green one.

[jetty]

thanks timmy...they are still holding on as of this morning.

[ShAgMaN]

Tim, I placed the one I got from you in a semi shaded area, (thinking mushrooms) and it didn't really inflate. So I decided to move it into some good lighting. I was hesitant at first cause my lights are pretty strong, then I lost him in the rocks yesterday after he came off the plug I glued him to, but found him this evening. Hopefully Ricky attaches to the rock he's on...I don't wanna lose this guy, he's too darn cool.


I have a BUNCH of these and they are at the highest point in my tank. I have 4 T5 bulbs, 2 blue 2 power glo. One is the size of a softball. I don't really know what is making them grow so well, but they are cover covering a rock like wall paper. I feed the tank coral frenzy every two or three days, but thats it.

I hope yours pull through..if not let me know and I can get you a nice green one.

[ShAgMaN]

thanks timmy...they are still holding on as of this morning.

Good to hear. Do you use iodine? Seems like whenever I dose a little my softies perk up.

[timmytimtim]

Any updates Jetty? ShAgMaN...i hope he sticks for you. I may frag some more off the side of that rock. I'll float them in a container with rubble so they can stick. Let me know if that one doesn't work out and I'll get you another.

[jetty]

The big ones are not going to make it. I haven't pulled the rock out to check the ones on the back. The 2 smaller ones that bailed earlier have disappeared, I suspect they died. My first coral casualties, not counting my ppe's that were eaten by nudies.

I do have a questions about my other rics. They are doing fine at the bottom of the tank, but not really growing all that fast (I have been feeding them occassionally). Will they do better a little higher up? See my lighting in first post. I read where they do best with 10000k lighting, but haven't found any info regarding my bulbs other than par. Well I do know I have a 6500k GE daylight.

Thanks.

[ShAgMaN]

Very cool, I'll let you know thanks.


Any updates Jetty? ShAgMaN...i hope he sticks for you. I may frag some more off the side of that rock. I'll float them in a container with rubble so they can stick. Let me know if that one doesn't work out and I'll get you another.