Pulsating Xenia
There are many species of xenia with many different colors such as blue white pink brown green and cream colored varieties.
Pulsating xenia. Pulsing xenia is a rapidly growing encrusting type species that will creep along andy surface and grow new polyps. They get their name from the pulsing pumping movement they make. It makes them one of the most eye catching corals in a reef tank.
Others love it because of its constant motion and. Pulsing xenia coral and pom pom xenia coral are a very popular fast growing and easy to frag soft corals species which are known for their pulsing action of the polyps. Pumping xenia is a soft coral it mostly feeds on nutrients in the water and photosynthesis via their zooxanthellae.
Description reviews 4 description. Pulsing xenia goes by its scientific name xenia elongata. As they grow they group into colonies and spread into mats across the rockwork.
It s commonly found in the indo pacific ocean and the red sea where it inhabits areas of water at depths of 0 to 30 feet. A low flow refugium can have a small bit of live rock with a frag of xenia attached and in short order the whole refugium will be covered in pulsing swaying xenia. Consider the pros and cons of this engaging coral before you pull the trigger.
Rated 5 00 out of 5 based on 4 customer ratings 4 customer reviews 9 99 4 99. The ability of xenia to uptake nutrients and look beautiful at the same time has prompted a few people to use it in a refugium. The polyps open and and close in a pulsing motion which is where it gets its name from.
Xenia are one of the few corals that have a constant pulsing motion. Some reefkeepers hate it because it grows and spreads so prolifically. Therefore it is possible that over time and left unchecked an individual pulsing xenia coral could conceivably invade every piece of live rock in your tank.
There has been quite a lot of research about why exactly they do this as it takes the coral a lot of energy and it needs to be justified why they would do this constantly. It has study stalks covered with a crown of featherly polyps. The pulsing xenia xenia elongata is a soft coral commonly referred to as waving hand coral pom pom coral or red sea xenia.
The purpose of their pulsing behavior is not well understood but the prevailing sentiment is the corals pulse to increase flow around the colony and maximize surface area for photosynthesis.
