Long-Stalk Xenia Care Guide
Xenia elongata is a long-stalked pulsing soft coral of the family Xeniidae. It is photosynthetic, fast-growing and spreads readily in a reef tank.
Overview
Xenia elongata is a pulsing soft coral of the family Xeniidae, distinguished within the trade by its taller, longer stalks. Like other Xenia it carries a bouquet of polyps whose many-fingered hands open and close rhythmically, though it tends to pulse less actively than Xenia umbellata. It is photosynthetic and fast-growing.
Taxonomy
- Class: Octocorallia
- Family: Xeniidae
- Genus: Xenia
- Scientific name: Xenia elongata
- Authority: Dana, 1846 (WoRMS, order Malacalcyonacea)
Habitat
The genus Xenia occurs on tropical Indo-Pacific reefs. As a photosynthetic soft coral it relies on symbiotic zooxanthellae within its tissue for most of its nutrition.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24–26 °C (75–79 °F)
- pH: 8.1–8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024–1.026
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8–11
- Calcium: 380–450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280–1350 ppm
- Nitrate: below ~15 ppm; phosphate below ~0.1 ppm
- Lighting: medium, about 75–175 PAR
- Flow: low to moderate, indirect
- Minimum tank age: about 3 months
Provide moderate light and gentle indirect flow; the coral usually establishes easily and grows quickly under stable soft-coral conditions.
Diet
Xenia elongata is mainly photosynthetic, drawing most of its energy from zooxanthellae and absorbing dissolved nutrients; supplemental amino acids or phytoplankton are optional rather than necessary.
Compatibility
It is reef, fish and shrimp safe and lacks strong stinging tentacles, but it spreads readily, so isolated placement and routine pruning help keep it from overgrowing neighbours.