Bleaching Xenia??

[travis w 9999]

I have had a pair of Xenia for a couple months now. For the last couple of weeks they have not been pulsing as usual. They both appeared to be looking healthier after I did a water change and added some Iodide, but in the last couple of days one of the two has been looking very bad while the other is looking much better. The one sick one has a large section of it turning stark white. The hands attached in this area are also turning white, and one arm fell off when I lightly squirted it with a turkey baster (there was some hair algae that I wanted to squirt off).

I have no idea why this one would be looking so sick, while his neighbour is looking healthy.

From what I have read, I would think that this portion turning white is consistent with coral bleaching. My water is good, I test frequently. Any idea of what I could be doing wrong?? My LFS says that Xenia just die off sometimes for no reason and this is normal.

There is a picture I posted in another discussion board. I couldn't figure out how to do it in this one.

http://www.reefaquariumguide.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4826


Your commetns are appreciated.

Thanks,

Travis

 

[nin0]

its true xenias do die off for some unknown reason...could be a lot of things...i have one colony right now thats about to die...It has a yellow/whitish puss growing on it and it looks almost as if its being invaded by a parasite. The best you can probably do is try to save the portion thats not withhering away by seperating it from the dying colony...thats the best i can think of

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
From the pic you posted on the other broad, it looks like that the white part is the decomposed tissue (dead) of Xenia, not "bleached." As others said, remove it. Sometime they just peel off and leave the living tissue behind.

From the color of the Indo Pacific Xenia (X. elongata), it looks like it is not getting enough light. But that may due to the way you photograph it. What is your light setup? Notice that Xenia can do well in low-light condition, so the dying may not have anything to do with it. The IP Xenia do well even under regular (NO) four feeters (40W).

 

[travis w 9999]

I took that picture with the flash, which makes it look darker. I have 100 watts of VHO and Actinic lighting. The Xenia is likely about 14" from the lighting. It is only a 25 gallon tank.

If I cut the entire head off the xenia, can it regenerate from the stub? It has gotten worse since the picture and only has a few normal looking arms left. I can't see how I can save them.

Thanks,

 

[davelin315]

Cut it off, it'll regrow. I would also cut the remaining arms off of the head, and just leave it all floating in your tank. Any pieces that survive will attach and begin to grow (it only takes a tiny little nub to grow) and whatever doesn't survive will rapidly dissolve (although this will release wastes into your water column, which in turn will turn into xenia food).

By the way, I agree with the other posts, it's not bleaching, as I don't think xenia does that, it just rots away when it's not doing well.

 

[Alf3482]

Travis,
Just cut the head off it WILL grow back. If you don't it may cause the rest of it to die off. I have this happen every once in a while. I just cut the head off she grows right back.