are my xenia reproducing?

Liz

Liz

AC Members
Mar 25, 2005
691
0
16
37
I have a little tiny "baby" xenia branching up from the base of my xenia, so I thought that was how they reproduced, but do they also "split" to reproduce? I've noticed one of my stalks is splitting from the top (Unless it came that way and I majorly overlooked it this whole time). In this picture I have circled both the "baby" xenia and the splitting stalk.

reproducingxenia.jpg
 
Once many of the common Xenia species get to be a certain size, they'll start branching like your picture shows. Sometimes it'll just continue branching, other times I've seen them split into two completely separate stalks. If you choose to frag it, I find that those branches are a quick and easy frag. The remaining main stalk and other branches will recover quickly, and in about a week you'll barely be able to tell that you fragged the coral.

As for the little growth near the bottom, for some reason I've never seen them grow into much in my tank. They just grow at a much slower rate, although I don't have an explanation as to why.
 
can I cut them? if so, is there a trick to it so I don't kill it?
 
A sharp razor blade works well for cutting Xenia. There's no real trick to it... For instance, if you were to cut it off near the base and left 1/4" - 1/2" of tissue, it can grow back from that little bit of tissue left behind. I use to do that, but have since started letting the stalks branch, then cut off one of the branches where it meets the main stalk.
 
fsn77 said:
A sharp razor blade works well for cutting Xenia. There's no real trick to it... For instance, if you were to cut it off near the base and left 1/4" - 1/2" of tissue, it can grow back from that little bit of tissue left behind. I use to do that, but have since started letting the stalks branch, then cut off one of the branches where it meets the main stalk.
Click to expand...
After you cut it, how do you attach it to a rock or something to get it started?
 
I loosely rubberband it to another piece of rock. The rubberband should be tight enough to hold it securely, but not tight enough to cut through the tissue.
 
FSN,
O.K. I cut a branch off and rubber banded it to a rock. The severed top is already opening up and moving in the current. I didn't expect it to open up already,
Thanks a lot,
Tom
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom