Soft coral
Xenia
Xenia spp.
Also sold as Pom-pom xenia
- Type
- Soft coral
- Care level
- Beginner (can become a weed)
- Light
- 50 to 150 PAR (low)
- Flow
- Medium
- With neighbours
- Spreads or stings mildly
Safety: handling xenia
Low hazard
How do you care for xenia?
Placement
Isolated rock away from prized corals
Flow
Moderate
Feeding
Not needed; absorbs dissolved nutrients
Growth
Very fast in some tanks, almost nothing in others typical, check
Water quality
Can crash suddenly; alkalinity below about 7 dKH associated with weak pulsing. Iodine link is anecdotal. typical, check
How much light does it need?
Sources put it at about 50 to 150 PAR, measured where the coral sits. No figure was published for this coral itself, so this is the usual range for its group. Start a new coral at the low end and raise it over weeks.
Low light reported to stop pulsing. typical, check
Which neighbours are safe?
Not stinging, but smothers by spreading typical, check
Isolate; hard to remove once spread
Fish
Fish known to nip this group of corals, or small enough to be caught by it.
Take care (4)
- Coral beautyCoral beauty may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Flame angelfishFlame angelfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Foxface rabbitfishFoxface rabbitfish may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
- Moorish idolMoorish idol may nip soft corals, more so when underfed.
Other corals
Corals that can harm this one if placed too close.
Take care (10)
- Hammer coralHammer coral stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the xenia out of reach.
- Frogspawn coralFrogspawn coral stings neighbours; keep the xenia out of reach.
- Torch coralTorch coral stings neighbours; keep the xenia out of reach.
- GalaxeaGalaxea stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the xenia out of reach.
- Horn coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the xenia out of reach.
- Fire coral (not Acropora millepora)Fire coral (not Acropora millepora) stings neighbours; keep the xenia out of reach.
- Bubble tip anemoneBubble tip anemone stings neighbours; keep the xenia out of reach.
- Mini maxiMini maxi stings neighbours; keep the xenia out of reach.
- Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant)Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) stings neighbours; keep the xenia out of reach.
- Ritteri anemoneRitteri anemone stings neighbours; keep the xenia out of reach.
Invertebrates
Invertebrates that may nip corals when hungry.
Take care (3)
- Emerald crabSome emerald crabs nip corals when hungry.
- Peppermint shrimpSome peppermint shrimps nip corals when hungry.
- Camel shrimpSome camel shrimps nip corals when hungry.
These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.
Pests, dips and quarantine
Few
General dip; check rock for hitchhikers
No dip reliably kills pest eggs, so a dip lowers the risk rather than removing it. Inspect new frags with a torch after lights out, including the underside and the plug.
Sources
Last checked . How we check
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Related corals
Zoanthids
Zoanthus spp.
- Care
- Beginner
- Light
- Low
- Flow
- Medium
- Neighbours
- Spreads or stings mildly
Photo Kazvorpal, CC BY-SA 3.0
Palythoa
Palythoa spp.
- Care
- Beginner
- Light
- Low
- Flow
- Medium
- Neighbours
- Spreads or stings mildly
Photo Nick Hobgood, CC BY-SA 3.0
Mushroom coral
Discosoma spp. (corallimorph)
- Care
- Beginner
- Light
- Low
- Flow
- Low
- Neighbours
- Peaceful
Photo Kevmin, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hairy mushroom
Rhodactis spp.
- Care
- Beginner
- Light
- Low
- Flow
- Low
- Neighbours
- Spreads or stings mildly
Photo Haplochromis, Public domain