Softies *Kind Of* Native to the Florida Gulf Area?

[Fish Fan]

Hey all!

Florida Gulf lovers and strict biome adherers please look away!!!

I have two small tanks started with live rock and sand from Tampa Bay Saltwater - a 15 gallon that is for now my "main" tank, and a 10 gallon tank for a Florida N. wennerae Mantis. For the 10 gallon Mantis tank, I want to keep the livestock *somewhat close* to a Florida Gulf biome tank, with livestock that is *more-or-less* native to the region. I'm throwing a lot of quotes around because I am not a scientist, and I'm not trying to be super strict here. I'm just looking to have a tank that might mimic what you might see in the Florida Gulf area. For example, I believe that some varieties of zoas and palys come from this area, but I believe they are far from the most colorful in the hobby. I'm alright with that, and already have a few varieties of zoas/palys in this tank. I also have two varieties of gorgonians doing well and just one green Ricordea florida mushroom in this tank; I would love a blue or orange R. florida for sure.

When I Google search for this, I get huge, native Florida coral colonies that I don't think are really in the aquarium hobby, like info from the Florida department of wildlife. My question is, what corals or groups of corals are at least associated with the Florida Gulf area where my rock and sand came from, but available in the pet trade? I'm posting here because I am looking for very easy, cheap softies that my Mantis can harass at will.

Any advice would be very helpful! Thank you very much for your help!

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

I think you've got all the native corals to the Gulf Coast. But there are tons of beautiful rock flower nems you could add; also, condy nems. Xenia-umbellata in the family Xeniidae has become invasive in spots like the Gulf Coast and Hawaii. They're native to the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea, so they're technically not native, but they're growing in the Gulf.

 

[Fish Fan]

I think you've got all the native corals to the Gulf Coast. But there are tons of beautiful rock flower nems you could add; also, condy nems. Xenia-umbellata in the family Xeniidae has become invasive in spots like the Gulf Coast and Hawaii. They're native to the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea, so they're technically not native, but they're growing in the Gulf.

Thank you for your reply! I asked about rock flower anemones when I started this tank. I'm nervous about anemones as someone warned me that they can actually kill the mantis. I believe it's when a chunk of food lands on the anemone, and then the mantis tries to grab it, and gets "got" by the anemone.

I think if I could get a couple other colors of the Ricordea florida shrooms, that would probably be good.

Thanks for your help!

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Thank you for your reply! I asked about rock flower anemones when I started this tank. I'm nervous about anemones as someone warned me that they can actually kill the mantis. I believe it's when a chunk of food lands on the anemone, and then the mantis tries to grab it, and gets "got" by the anemone.

I think if I could get a couple other colors of the Ricordea florida shrooms, that would probably be good.

Thanks for your help!

Yeah, it's definitely a risk you take. They're pretty sticky, so I am not sure how the mantis would do if it were to get stuck in it. Ricordeas are beautiful too, so those are a great choice!