Can my Xenia frag be saved?

[AquaDan]

I got a frag of a Red Sea Xenia in the mail over the weekend. It was totally limp out of the box. I quarantined it and today its looking like it has a little more life to it. Can someone tell me if this is normal for Xenia? Will it improve or is it too late?

The pic on the left is how it looked out of the box and the next two are what it looks like today.


Thanks.

 

[cmantis]

That stuff is a weed imo you should kill it. (btw it looks like its coming back to life just fine in case you don't agree with me )

 

[lnevo]

Xenia melted in my tank...but if your tank will take it, you will have a hard time keeping it from taking over...

And fwiw it didnt look that bad after a trip in the mail...looks like its doing fine. Check back w us in 2 more days..

 

[AquaDan]

That stuff is a weed imo you should kill it. (btw it looks like its coming back to life just fine in case you don't agree with me )

LOL! Thanks Mantis. I hope I don't regret buying this frag...

 

[AquaDan]

Xenia melted in my tank...but if your tank will take it, you will have a hard time keeping it from taking over...

And fwiw it didnt look that bad after a trip in the mail...looks like its doing fine. Check back w us in 2 more days..

Thanks Inevo. It doesn't seem to be pulsating like I've read its supposed to do, which is why I was concerned.

 

[lnevo]

What do you have in there for flow?

 

[KathyC]

Are you quarantining it in your DT or do you have another tank for those purposes? It looks like it could use more flow.


Xenia grows for some people (many of them too well) and for others it won't grow at all and it melts totally away. I have never been able to keep it alive. Go figure. Nobody knows why.

 

[AquaDan]

Are you quarantining it in your DT or do you have another tank for those purposes? It looks like it could use more flow.


Xenia grows for some people (many of them too well) and for others it won't grow at all and it melts totally away. I have never been able to keep it alive. Go figure. Nobody knows why.

Yes I have a separate 10 gallon tank that its currently in. Funny you should mention flow because I was wondering the same thing but I thought I read that Xenias do not require a lot of flow as they create their own water movement by pulsating their polyps.

Do you think I should add a small powerhead?

 

[AquaDan]

What do you have in there for flow?

I have a WP40 in the main tank but the Xenia is in a 10 gallon QT tank at the moment. Only flow is being created by the filter.

 

[james1990]

they do like some flow. I added some to my first nano. after a year it became like a weed and I couldn't get rid of it. problem is that is stings near by corals.

 

[pecan2phat]

Drop of Iodine will also help it on it's way.

 

[Geraud]

I do not think Xenia stings anything, it just kills by "invasion" similarly to algae.

The solution? Do not start with it, put some LPS and SPS first... they will make sure it does not grow too much.

Back in the days I had a piece of Hydnophora grow 3 inches tentacles to destroy the Xenia around it. pretty crazy how fast they melt.

Oh and most importantly: wear gloves when manipulating it, that thing stinks!

 

[CullyisGully]

LOL! Thanks Mantis. I hope I don't regret buying this frag...

You will unless you want a LPS tank

 

[chris koci]

xenia's are weird its like the wicked witch