Common names include Waving Hand Coral, Feather Coral, Glove Coral and Pulse Coral. It is a photosynthetic, encrusting soft coral very similar to Xenia, but much larger. Usually a light brown and polyps sometimes pulse. Given the right conditions it can spread quite rapidly.
Common names include Pulse Coral, Pom-Pom Xenia, Pumping Xenia, Red Sea Xenia, Blue Xenia, and Pulsing Xenia. Usually a mass of brown, long, yet thin stem flower-like eight tentacle polyps interconnected at the base with colors varying somewhat depending upon geographical location and position in the area of collection. Can reach a height of about six inches or slightly more. Sometimes sensitive to nitrate-nitrogen levels over 5 mg/l. May deteriorate if nitrate-nitrogen levels exceeds 10 mg/l. Some species of this photosynthetic soft coral have polyps that pulse, opening and closing every one to five seconds. This may be a mechanism to rid excess oxygen, which can be highly toxic. Pulsing does not appear to be a feeding mechanism.
Some species appear slightly different in color, e.g., blue, green, or red. I attribute this to their ultraviolet(UV) protection pigments. Therefore, if you purchased "Blue" Xenia from the dealer don't be surprised if the blue color dissipates after it has been in the aquarium for a few weeks. Metal halides are preferable, as Xenia seems to do better under intense light. It can spread like a carpet and can overgrow adjacent corals. Does not sting adjacent corals, but simply overgrows them or shades them.
It is thought to put out a chemical that interferes with the growth of mushroom coral. Yet some aquariums I've seen having both were all doing well. Yet, I suggest Xenia be placed where water flowing past it will go directly to the filter system or sump, and not past mushroom colonies.
Can be propagated by taking cuttings. It requires medium to good water circulation, will not tolerate hair algae, and seems to do better in aquariums that regularly use iodine additives. A fairly easy coral to maintain under the proper circumstances. Yet, seems to be prone to "crashes" where it dissipates rapidly. This can sometimes be stopped by increasing water flow, thinning out the colony, and/or increasing iodine level. The brown protozoan Helicostoma, a gelatinous slime-like material that is sometimes involved in Xenia crashes, can occasionally be cleared up by bathing the specimen in a weak solution of Lugols iodine.
There's also a small crab, usually found in pairs and visible only at night, that eats this soft coral. Usually found on top of closed heads at night. If possible, remove with a tweezer.
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