Pruning back Xenia

[dolfans1]

About 6 months ago I purchased some Xenia. Since then, it has taken off and is beginning to take over the left side of my tank. I'd like to prune it back some, and start new colonies to trade in at my LFS. What is the best way to remove them - cut their stalk w/ a razor, or try to peel them off the LR? Below is a picture showing how much they've spread:

 

[gomrjoe]

That is amazing! How large was the original piece when you acquired it? 6 Months and it spread that fast! I got a small piece of Xenia myself, about 3 months ago, give or take, and it still is on the same rock it came on. It has divided 4 times already.

Anyways, I have never tried it myself, but from what I have read, it is basically like gardening. Pruning them and them attaching them somehow to another piece of rock. Some people use rubber bands, others apoxy. I succesfully propogated Star Polyps, but those are easy. I am curious myself, hopefully some of the "experts" can chime in as well.

 

[cajunpuffer]

Either pull them off the rock or cut them with a razor blade.
I have fragged my zenia often and both methods work.

 

[fsn77]

Using a razor blade works fine -- if you leave a little bit on the rock, it will grow back from the stump. You can also cut off a branch if it's branching any. I usually rubberband it to a piece of rubble. It's usually better if the newly cut frags are kept in an area with high flow, which is suppose to keep a bacterial infection from occurring (so I've been told).

 

[dolfans1]

Thanks. The original xenia that I bought was on a piece of rock that was about 3" x 3". The growth has been unbelievable - I can see new growth every day. The problem is that they are starting to encroach on other things. It is amazing to watch the whole bed of xenia waving and pulsing, but some of it has to go.

If cutting the stalk with a razor will result in it growing back, then I'll try prying the stuff off of the rock. I have some small rocks sitting in my quarantine tank that I can attach them to. My LFS says they'll give me credit for trade ins.

 

[RothChyld]

I have been doing this for quite some time although expert is a strong word. I have mine on a flatter rock. What I do it put smaller rocks around the colony. They spread onto the smaller rocks then I remove them and replace with other smaller rocks. This eliminates the need for cutting / rubber banding etc. I can generate about 5 rocks a month depending on size etc. and generally sell them back for around $25 a piece (giving me back small LR to put into the tank.) They sell for about $65 here in Tampa.

Also note as FSN said above if you leave any part of the stock on the rock it will grow back. This gets particularly hairy when they nestle into a crevice.

Mike

 

[dolfans1]

Thanks - that is a great idea for the future. If I had know they would spread this much, I would have put small rocks in to begin with. Hindsight's always 20/20.

 

[gomrjoe]

Thanks for the post Dolfan, and all the replies (everyone else). I did not realize that using the small rock method would work for xenia as well. That is good to know, learn something new everyday! As I mentioned before, the small rock method works great for star polyp! I have a little rock garden in my backyard that I have started using.

 

[bjtennply]

You know I'm new to this, but I'm jealous. Something always happens to my xenias. Well 18 mos new. I do have a small reef in spite of myself!

Congrats!

 

[rayjay]

I have a little rock garden in my backyard that I have started using.

If you are serious about using rocks from a terrestial garden I'd suggest thinking again. Those rocks may have harmful metals that would dissolve in the salt water causing havoc.
Use only rock that is known to be absolutely safe or use something like clam shells and large turbo snail shells.
I pile reef rubble on top of my mass of xenia and in a short while the xenia (which likes to be on the highest point) moves onto the pieces and can be removed. I do this instead of cutting so that I remove the total flesh of the xenia so nothing remains to grow back again.