Pulsing Xenia Frag...

[sophos9]

Hi,

Just fragged a piece of pulsing xenia (as it was being attacked by my Torch Coral), I used mesh and elastic band. How long until the Xenia attaches itself to the rock?

Cheers

 

[AK77]

I've got no idea how long it would take to attach itself naturally, but couldn't you glue it? I swear I read that cyano based glues are reef safe, although I don't know if this would include Xenia too?

 

[sophos9]

Apparently, Xenia outputs a load of mucus and glueing becomes difficult... Will give it a few days then check it out!

 

[AK77]

I can't wait for mine to start spreading to additional rock surfaces. I got two frags with 6 heads one and 5 on the other. Really nice to watch them as they flow in the current and pulse open and shut.

 

[littleme1969]

Xenia is one of the easiest to frag. You dont need to stick it down or tie it down. If you get some clear clastic about 3" high and make it into a circle, stick with super glue. Place this is the sand substrate to make a suround to protect the frag from current and CUC knocking it off. Place a piece of rock in the circle that you want to attech the frag to, the flatter the better and if it has a dip in the middle even better Make sure the rock is well bedded and stable, now place your frag in the middle making sure its out of current and does not blow away. The cut part of the frag will in about a week atatch itself to the rock. Or another way is to lean your existing frag onto a piece of rock where you want it to grow and in about 2 weeks the stalk will grow onto the rock by itself.
Ive found glue and most soft corals just does not work, as they produce a slime coat which means its just detatches after about 24hrs.

 

[SkiFletch]

Xenia is pretty hardy, so prolly a few days...

 

[Tommy Gun]

Not that I disagree with anyone's advice so far...in fact, I have done very similar 'tricks' to propagate Xenia myself...but as yet another alternative for an easy, glue-free method of attaching xenia to rock/rubble, I have found great success in placing the xenia into a small plastic disposable cup with a few slits cut in the sides (and top, if you want to) with a peice of live rock:

As already pointed out, xenia is extremely hardy and will attach itself to something within a week or two, if not days. In fact, over the span of about 6 months, that one xenia frag in my pictures above is now:

And I have given a TON of the stuff away! In fact, this coral can propagate very readily on its own...and will attach to nearly everything! including glass:

screens:

and even slow moving life!!!!!

 

[Musho3210]

great for bb aquariums btw, since it can and will go on glass

 

[Tommy Gun]

great for bb aquariums btw, since it can and will go on glass

Definitely can! I have the stuff growing all over my tank, including on the glass as you can see in the third photo from the bottom.