Cutting Xenia - When can it be done?

[chrisbenavides]

One of my Xenias is about to split, but I wondered if I could "hurry" this up and split it myself.

How do you cut Xenia? Just like said, cut through the splitting?

I'm scared to kill the little guy.

THANKS!!!

 

[hamburglar]

If it growing and trying to split on it's own, you should be safe to cut it. I would recommend cutting the stalk right where it is splitting this time. Use something like a rubber band, tooth pick, dental floss, ect to secure it to another rock.

After you have 2 healthy Xenia's growing, you can just get mid-evil on one of them (because you have a spare).

The most important thing is to wait for one to show signs of growth before cutting it. And, it it starts to turn a sick yellow, you will need to work on it because the yellow guk is a sign of meltdown. This can usually be avoided by blasting the infected tissue of with a power head and then putting the Xenia in a place with higher current.

 

[Serioussnaps]

If you keep your tank right you dont really need to cut xenia of the pulsing variety if thats what you speak of. Just put small rocks next to the frag and watch it go. Its crazy, its like a damn weed, after a while you may see that it gets annoying. Dont cut it. You can, but why when it will spread like a weed on its own. If it doesnt spread, look into it , then cut. Patience.

 

[chrisbenavides]

Pulsing Xenia

Pulsing Xenia

So in order to take it off the current rock, all I have to do is place a smaller one next to it and in time it will move on to that smaller rock? The reason was I wanted to move this coral to a seahorse tank.

 

[XeniaMania]

There are a few ways to propagate this coral.

1) Put a piece of rock next to it and wait for it to attach, then cut.
2) You can cut it right off the stalk and rubberband to a rock.
3) You can just cut off the polyps and let the polyps attach to rock. (Advanced method but highest yield)

In the event they don't look so "hot" after being cut, I take about a cup of tank water, put 1 drop of Lugol's into it and soak the xenia for about a minute. You should see an instant reaction to the solution of the xenia compressing, and filling up w/ water. I've saved many xenias doing that.

 

[Pillz]

the more you chop it up the more xenia grows.. I found that out quick...