When a xenia/softie dies

[SFBiol]

does it detach from the rock? This one xenia in my tank has been shrinking and I'm not sure if it's dead, so I don't know if I should remove it since it's still attached to the rock. How do i know for sure? It has not been pulsing for the past day or two.

 

[dreaminmel]

Whenever I lost any they literally seemed to disintegrate. A great majority of xenia stops pulsing in captivity but still grows like crazy. I would keep on eye on it if it's shrinking though...

 

[drbronx]

The first thing I would do is to try to determine why your xenias aren't happy. They are a great leading edge barometer of tank health. If my xenids are extended and pulsing I know that the tank is in generally good shape since they are very sensitive to environmental conditions. Check out your water parameters most specifically looking at specific gravity, ph, alk, ca etc. Xenids like ph in the 8.4 zone. Also they don't like big temp swings. They also like some iodid supplementation especially if you are not keeping up on water changes. But if you do supplement you should get an iodide test kit. Also make sure nobody is nipping at them. They hate that! But no worries, I have plenty more I can give you. Good lick.

 

[Arik]

Has it changed color at all? If it seems lighter than normal, another coral may have stung it.

 

[nwrogers]

SFBiol:

drbronx is right on the money with this one. You are NOT the first one in the area to kill off a bunch of xenia with out of wack parameters. The one time I lost a bunch of xenia my calcium was way low! I haven’t let that happen again…

Nate

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

If the Xenia is still attached it's not dead. Even if it detaches it's not necessarily dead.
Triple check temp, alkalinity and calcium levels.

 

[SFBiol]

Thanks for all the great input, I feel like I've gotten info from the Reef Professors Club here seriously! Well, since it was only the X. elongata who is shrinking, while the anthelias are blossoming, I'm going to assume the one is more sensitive to minor disasters than the others. (Specific gravity dropped abit when i got distracted X2 the other day). Anyway, I'm glad to know there's a chance the xenia will survive, unless he continues to shrink to the point where I just can't see him anymore.