Ricordea

[Scrandrew]

As I am a ricordea buff, I buy the things frequently. I have 20+ or so in my reef that are growing and splitting. However, from time to time in my tank, and, expecially when I purchase new ones that are shipped to me, the things detach from their respective rocks. Once detached, they seem to do very well (at least in my fuge where there is less water current flow). But, my question is, why do they do this? As I said, when I get them in the mail, frequently, I find a ric and a rock, completely seperated. How do I prevent this? How do I encourage them to reattach? I have left one that came in the mail, completely detached, in my fuge sitting on a rock. He has been in this position, undisturbed, for about two to three weeks. When I attempted to put him in my main tank, I noticed that he was about 1/3 or so attached to the rock, with about 2/3 still free floating and waiting to be sucked up by the current. Why does it happen? How do I stop it from happening? What is the key to making them stay put?

A~

[aquarius77]

If they are happy they should attach. They are detaching from the stress of shipping is my guess. I have had rics attach in days and others took 2 weeks.

[Lytehouse]

Originally posted by aquarius77
If they are happy they should attach. They are detaching from the stress of shipping is my guess. I have had rics attach in days and others took 2 weeks.

This is what I've seen and been told. They detach from stress or when unhappy with their position, whether light or flow or other variable. I've covered them loosly with netting so they get all the benefits of nutrients and light and they attach in couple days usually. Friend of mine puts them in a dish on the sandbed with rock or rubble till they attach.

[rmiga13]

I have taken a 1 liter plastic bottle and cut the top and bottom off, place in my LS and place LR rubble in there and then put the Ric in there he will find his happy spot and reattach normally takes about a week.

[MFULKERSIN]

I used a sour cream cup (empty and clean of course) put LR rubble in it and then put the rics in there and covered it with bridal veil (toulle) then placed in the tank and it only took about 3 days and they were happily attached

[rmiga13]

here is a pic of what mine looks like during my reattachment process