Propagating Xenia's?

[Arkayne]

I've only green polyps in my tank right now and am considering some Xenia's in the near future. I think Xenia's are beautiful and I can't wait to add them to my tank. However, I'm only comfortable owning them if I know how to take care of them. I've been doing some reading and saw this:

"One of the true elements of keeping a Xenia alive in a closed system is propagating them often. Giving the Xenia a hair cut and spreading the risk to more than one tank is critical." Source (http://www.garf.org/fish3/xeniaclown.html)

I'm confused about the "propagating" and "hair cut". Is he talking about cutting the Xenia with scissors? Could anyone shed some light on this?

[papagimp]

Xenia is somewhat mystic in that some people can have a massive xenia colony with no problems, and others with almost identical systems cannot keep em going for any real length of time. I've always been fortunate that mine have done great and only once have I experienced a "xenia crash", which is a possiblity that happens from time to time. Usually the left over bits that did not die off completely will come back and start recolonizing, but this does "crash" is commonplace and nobody really knows the underlining causes.

anyways, that said, xenia is one of the easiest to keep species in my opnion, and even easier to propogate. YOu can cut the stalks with scissors, I prefer a razor blade myself, as scissors can "pinch" the frag off instead of cutting it off, a cleaner cut will heal better and less chance for brown jelly infections. Another great way to control xenia growth, and I use this method as well, is to surround the current colony with rubble rocks and/or reef disk, anything basically that the xenia can grab ahold of, and as it spreads, remove the new frags and replace with more rubble rock or whatever. works like a charm.

If you enjoy your GSP and don't mind the quickness that they spread around a tank, than you'll probably love xenia's as well.

[Fizz71]

I had a HUGE xenia colony for a while until my anemone walked up through the middle of the field and stung the colony to death.

What started like this in 10/2003:
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/Fizz71/Reef/2003-10-13%20October%2013th%20-%202003/DCP_0098.jpg" width=771>
(and that's a toothpick if you want a size reference)

Was this in 7 months:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/Fizz71/Reef/2004-05-26%20May%2026th%20-%202004/d1d6a909.jpg

I couldn't kill the stuff...cut it, scrape it, nothing..it would continue to thrive. And it pulsed ALL the time...even in a bag when being sold! It was quite beautiful.

It was in high flow and high light although I don't know if the light had any affect. I know people that have so much of it that they can't GIVE it away fast enough and I know other people who can't keep it alive more than 2 weeks....from the same colonies!!

Moral of the story...cross your finger that it grows, and if it does be sure to keep it someplace it can be contained. They walk, jump (yes jump) and split to reproduce. Once they are footed they can't be removed!...ohhhh you can cut the stalk down..but it will grow back. :)

..and I always used a razor blade to trim them, but I would target the stalks that hadn't completely footed yet..so one cut could take out 5 or 6 stalks. :) And I often used that rubble method papagimp mentioned..although they would still need to be cut to break them from the rest of the colony.

I kept mine on a large rock with nothing touching it and that made it difficult to spread past where I wanted them...it worked pretty good..I hear sand is good at keeping them from roaming too...but watch out for glass..they'll grow right up it and keep going!

--Fizz

[Arkayne]

Holy smokes, thx for the pics, they grow so fast! If I were to keep 'trimming' to keep it manageable, what do you do with the pieces? Give it away? Sell it to a store? Craigslist?

[drummereef]

Your LFS should take your fragged xenia for store credit. Either that or sell/give away on your local forum. ;)

Xenia is very easy to propagate. Just take a sharp razor or scissors and cut away. Best to do it outside the tank. You'll thank me after you smell them. Here's a link for you. :)

http://www.garf.org/MPegs/XeniaPropagation.html

[six.line]

Agreed that Xenia can really be fickle. In my last tank my Xenia upped and died-- and nothing else did. I couldn't figure out why. All the tests were nominal (0 ammonia, 0 phosphates, alk and ca in normal ranges.)

Now I have a clump that's growing very well in a different tank.

Oh well. Gotta love xenia. :D

[Gdevine]

I am one of those where my Pink Creeping Xenia is simply thriving! I am just fascinated by pulsing coral, there's nothing like it. I had a friend tell me he prefers pulsing Xenia over stonies (what he calls colored rocks).

This weekend I am going to conduct my first fragging and asked a question to Mich at WWM. See below.

And yes, these are simply fascinating animals for sure!

The Only Constant is Change!
Hi WWM Crew!

[Hello Geno, Mich with you again.]
There's an article in the '07 April/May issue of Coral Magazine that has the title "The only constant is change" and it really hits the mark.

[As does the quote.]
Our live reef aquariums are under constant change.

[As are our lives in general.]
It's what makes this hobby so remarkable.

[In part!]
Ok;

So I have a question regarding the pruning of Pink Creeping Xenia.
I checked out all the FAQ's on Xenia within WWM and "WOW" there's a ton of great questions and responses.

[Glad you think so!]
I also did a lot of research online as well as questioning some respected coral only shops here is South Florida about pruning Xenia.

[OK.]
Yea see, I love pulsing corals...a lot.

[They are fascinating.]
There hasn't been one non-hobbyist that has seen my 65g Ecosystem that hasn't just been mesmerized by theses animated animals.

[Yes.]
And they are thriving...man-o-man are they thriving!

[Heee! Feast or famine generally with these corals!] So it's time to keep them in check as there are area's on this 6 month reef I don't want them on, so it's time to do some gardening.

[Yep!]
To the quick; I just want to clip them back and here's what I gathered is the correct way to do it so all I need is your approval or advice; [OK.] with a pair of stainless steel scissors cut the stalks as close to the base (one at a time) as possible and remove each stalk one at a time (I know they will grow back but over time...as...the title says...) so I plan on gardening (fragging) as it permits to keep these wonderful animals in check.
[Sounds good!]
I have a very powerful skimmer for my tank so any waste materials that could cause nutrient issues will be handled quickly.

[And you may want to add a bag of carbon at this time to assist with any chemical release stimulated by the trimming.]

So, does this simple plan seem correct for controlling Xenia growth or are there other considerations I need to contemplate as I prune?

[This is an acceptable method of control. I presume you are aware of their "walking" ability... This can also be a good way of fragging them, just allowing them move there way onto something which can be removed later ie small piece of LR or a shell.]

By the way, I do plan to sell/credit all the frag's to my LFS as these babies are not easy to ship and they are just full of health...and so cool:-)

[Excellent! Wonderful to hear this my friend!]

Thanks again for your input and response in advance my dear friends!

[You are quite welcome! Mich]
Geno

[Arkayne]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10141991#post10141991 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drummereef
Your LFS should take your fragged xenia for store credit. Either that or sell/give away on your local forum. ;)

http://www.garf.org/MPegs/XeniaPropagation.html

Pending survival, Xen's seem like a win-win. I like the idea of getting store credit AND giving it away. So, say my Xens do great and the time comes to trim them, is it worth the effort to let the pieces establish on reef plugs just for LFS credit? I suppose it would depend on how much credit they give, eh?

Thanks for the info everyone. It's good to be on an active forum with people who "know" and are willing to share the info. I think I'm going to like it here!

[killagoby]

I had Xenia when I 1st started my reef tank. It grew and spread like mad so I would have to cut it back every week with a scissor. Months later it all started to shrink and die off and in 3 to 4 days it was all gone...

[Fizz71]

I've also notice that xenia seem to do better in "dirtier" water..I'm not sure why, but they did.

I will warn you...this stuff is an exponential grower since it grows by splitting..the more you have, the more you have that you don't know what to do with. :) The other "good" side to selling to fish stores is that xenia is a rather poor shipper. That Fish Place is local to me and never seems to carry xenia unless it's local grown--so that's good for us. And man..they go through it FAST. That's where I sold mine when I had too much..they give store credit...you just have to call first to make sure they have space for it.

We have one NCPARS member here in PA that always has more than he knows what to do with; he always says he feels guilty selling the stuff to people because it's like a weed to him and others just can't seem to keep it alive! I've seen him give the equivalent of hundreds of dollars of his stuff away free or dirt cheap. You're not in PA are you? :)

Anyway..Good luck.

--Fizz

[Gdevine]

Ya just gotta luv Xenia:)

I have EcoSystem Mudd in my 30g refug and also dose with their Reef Solution so I think this has a ton to do with their health...that and my T5 HO's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[salty55]

i love my xenia it seems to be everyone favorite. people will stare at it forever. it waves and pulses gracefully in the current. and grows really fast. i have heard that they are really good for nutrient export also. they actually like a little phosphates