Xenia Xenia and more Xenia

[woofyitalian]

I went from not being able to keep a xenia alive for more than 2 weeks to (on my 4th try) having it grow like a weed (which is what I was warned about... so I know, I know... don't lecture me on that, please
It has moved and grown fuller (not really grown in size... just grown really bushy.) It's up on a mushroom rock now (which seems to be ok) but it's getting a little too full.
Is there a way to cut it back without harming it? Also, what do I do with the cuttings? Will they survive? If so, I'll donate them to my local LFS for credit (they'll do that if they know you.) I've been able to move some of it to make it climb up the back wall (which is what I initially wanted), but the one on the mushroom is just too bushy and is hiding my view of my shrooms... I thought about just donating the whole rock for a serious credit (it's a great mushroom rock with a really huge xenia on it now...) but I really kind of like both...
Suggestions?
Thanks!!

 

[theevoys]

Xenia is one the easiest corals to frag. Literally cut it with scissors, razor blade, etc... wherever the peice floats or is placed it will attach withing a day. Just let it recover and open back up and it is ready to go to the lfs for credit (or to another fellow reefer). I was the opposite way. My xenia grew crazy insane and I was cutting with scissors weekly and then BOOM. It all shriveled up and died... I have tried 2x to have more with no success. I have tons of other sofites and lps which do great!

 

[got2lb]

I literally RIPPED it off some rock. It tore off the base. I then stuck a toothpick through the piece I ripped off and jammed it into a hole in some rock and it attached within 2 days.

 

[CaptainCoral]

Some say roaches will inherit the earth, I think it will be xenia's. :bigeyes:

 

[Ti]

I rip them, they all do fine

 

[Blown 346]

There are several ways to frag Xenia.

1. Pull the Xenia by the stalk and slowly pull it off the rock work( if the stalk is big enough to grab).

2.Grab the stalk of the Xenia right below the head of it and cut the stalk( with a sharp scissors) as close to the bottom of where it is attached. You want to make the cut as clean and fast as posible so the Xenia can heal and recover.
By just cutting it and letting it go wherever, you might not be able to reach it once it attaches somewhere else.

Once you have that done pull the Xenia out of the tank place it on a piece of liverock rubble. Get some vail( bridal vale) or I used a old fish net and cut that up into differnt sized circles.
The size of the circle you cut depends on how big the frag is.
Place the netting over the Xenia very loosly (so it can expand) and put a rubberband on both ends of the vail or netting to hold the Xenia in place and netting in place.
Place the frag andthe rock into the tank in a low flow area so it can attach. I leave mine there for 4 to 5 days to be sure. Once that is done take therubber bands and vail off.