An interesting species of Halymenia that’s highly variable in color, ranging from bright yellow to red depending on the depth collected. Like all species of Halymenia, it’s gelatinous, slippery and smooth in texture and has no shape out of water. It’s thin fronds are very delicate and can break apart and tear when handled or subjected to high flow. This particular species stays rather compact and it’s blades are rounded and irregular similar to species of Ulva. Most Halymenia species grow in rather deep locations so do not require as much light as some other algae. Specimens are encountered either free floating or attached to rocks and protected ledges by a single holdfast. In the aquarium, it will seldom attach to anything on it’s own, so it must be anchored manually or allowed to tumble as a free floating specimen. H. floridana is very palatable and is readily eaten by both tangs, angels and herbivores.
Scientific Name: Halymenia floridana
Common Name: Red Sea Lettuce
Origin: Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic
Maximum Height : 18″
Growth Rate: Moderate
Light: Moderate to Low
Temperature: 76-82
Propagation: Fragmentation, Sporulation
Difficulty: Easy
Food Value: Very palatable
Nutrient Uptake: Good
Flow Rate: Moderate to High