Is My Xenia Dying?

[ReefRian]

I have 3 stalks of pulsing xenia (possibly the red sea kind). For the past few weeks I have noticed a split or kind of hole like thing starting on the stalks of all three. First I though it might be growing new arms, but as more time goes on it looks like the openings might be getting bigger. The hands look fine and the color hasn't changed. Is it slowly dying or doing something else? I know that I do have high nitrates that I have been working on getting rid of (I've been doing a water change once a week or every 4 or 5 days). I had a regular xenia decide it didn't want to live anymore and started shrinking away, while the rest of them look great. I think this xenia was what started the nitrates going up in the first place.

Rian

 

[sjfishguy]

Sounds normal to me. The xenia probably doesn't like where it is attached, so it could just grow itself off the rock. Mine have done this before. I would cut it off with scissors and rubberband the base where you want it. That usually helps mine. However, since you had other xenia die I might be suspicious.

 

[ReefRian]

Here is a pic of my xenia. Hopefully someone will know what is going on with it.

Rian

 

[Reefguide]

looks like its just splitting man.... I wouldnt worry....

 

[UnderGrad]

Rian,
Might want to try another picture that shows the hole better... its kind of hard to see it if you're not looking for it. :roll:



p.s. - nice pic!

 

[Anonymous]

Looks ok to me!..try talkin to it ......you know in soft soothin tones..ever raise a baby? Ya got to put some time into it! I have been spendin the last two hours rockin my Shrooms........hey I get a kick put of wakin them up a few times durin the early hours......just to make sure they are ok. LOL

 

[Reef Goalie]

My xenia does that regularly i.e. get "holes" in the stalks. Looks almost like an open wound on the meaty part of the stalk. It is just splitting. Looks kinda bad for a little then it moves or grows into new colonies. Mine has tripled in size in a very short time. The colonies regularly change in shape from long, thin to fat and stocky. Overall I've found this species of pulsing xenia very hardy. I take pieces and populate other rocks all over the tank very often.

 

[wombat1]

Rian,
my xenia (it's the one from my tank, right?) did the same thing a few weeks ago and wasn't looking as healthy. It's never done that before when splitting so I got a bit worried. I did weekly 10% water changes for a month, and it looks a lot better now. I wouldn't worry too much