Any special requirements for Blue Xenia::Cespitularia?

[sugartooth]

Hello, I really like these and saw on FragFarmer that they noted only for experienced keepers.

What special requirements do they need?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jamokie01]

None really, it just needs a nice stable tank. It is a good deal more delicate than other types of xenia but by no means difficult to keep. Its is however a horrible shipper and colonies have been known to crash for unknown reasons, though I have never experienced this.

Its a beautiful coral and pictures cannot do it justice, its just irridescent.

 

[apex003]

Mine seems to prefer my nutrient rich skimmerless systems to my highly skimmed system. I don't do any special care/requirements and it's light and flow tolerance seem very wide. I think it's just hit or miss as to whether it acclimates and does well in your system. I haven't experienced a crash either (knock on wood!), but have also heard they can crash for no particular reason.

 

[sugartooth]

Thanks for the info. How can you tell if it's happy or not? Does it wave, etc?

 

[Jamokie01]

Polyp extension pretty much shows whether its happy or distressed, same as anything else. It does not pulse.

As for ease of acclimation, having it shipped kills it Id say 80% of the time. This number is lowered alot if it is shipped upside down on styrofoam. It took me years to find mine, I wouldnt have it shipped and eventually got it locally.

 

[apex003]

I've received frags twice (both with successful long term survival) using the inverted float method.

 

[sugartooth]

Thanks so much! They really are very pretty.

 

[gosaints]

when you got your frags shipped how long did it take for them to fully open up? i got a frag last tuesday and it hasn't opened all the way yet.