What is the deal with Ricordea Florida?

[Anonymous]

In the second of my "Chip asks the tough questions" series, I'd like to know what the history is of Ricordea Florida...I've heard some things like it's illegal to collect more than one polyp at a time, or somesuch, but yet I see rocks sold with lots of polyps on them.

Thanks in advance for the history...

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

Yah, but what country are those coming from? I to have heard, and been told for many years now, that its illegal to collect ricordea on substrate (single polyps) in Florida (USA). I don't know the status of Haitian Ricordea though.

 

[Anonymous]

Yah, but what country are those coming from? I to have heard, and been told for many years now, that its illegal to collect ricordea on substrate (single polyps) in Florida (USA). I don't know the status of Haitian Ricordea though.

I used to get in the haitian ricordea on huge pieces of rock. I guess its legal.

 

[Anonymous]

Scubadude told me that you can take 8 octocorals per day in Florida, assuming your not in a marine sanctuary. He said you are supposed to only remove enough substrate to get a single polyp. Hammer and chisel are the tools of the trade.

I'd like to collect a few for myself. Next time I see him, I'll get more info on where he collects them from, but I believe he collects them on the east coast of Florida.

Louey

 

[Bryan Thompson]

Chip,

Here is he lowdown. Ricordia Florida is commonly found in the Atlantic. It is not specific to the waters off the coast of Florida. Our loose polyps come from Florida. In Florida you can collect only the polyp. No rock can be collected. Our colony rocks come from Haiti. This is the only legal way to get ricordia attached to rocks.

The rock is the issue and not the polyp. In Florida the rock is listed as protected, in Haiti it is not.

Hope this helps.

Bryan
Blowfish Aquatics.