Dangerous Neighbors?

[MermaidTail]

Hey all, looking for your advice. A liverock I put in my tank proved to have some sort of pulsing Xenia on it as a hitchhiker that has grown quite nicely. I like the look of it a lot. But it's on the same rock that I put my sun coral on. Both are doing well, but I'm wondering what their relationship as neighboring corals will be.

Will the Xenia affect the sun?

Pics below...Xenia to the right of the sun, obviously. Sorry about cell phone quality!

 

[melypr1985]

My bet is that the xenia will eventually smother the sun coral. But let's get some other opinions [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

 

[Sabellafella]

Unfortunantly, im pretty positive ^^shes right. Now as for stinging or fighting - may or may not happen, you got a good question there, well see soon who pops up.

 

[MermaidTail]

My bet is that the xenia will eventually smother the sun coral. But let's get some other opinions [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

This was my answer, too, fearfully. So how do I relocate the Xenia if they're on the same rock?

 

[melypr1985]

You could try to split the rock. Unfortunately if you try to cut it off it will probably just grow back. Xenia is a tuff one to get rid of.

 

[trickedout900]

Place a small rock on top of the xenia, but dont completely cover it. The xenia will climb onto the rock and once it does you can relocate it. This will be your best bet as it will move naturally leaving nothing behind. You could peel it off but the slightest spec will turn into a new one.

 

[MermaidTail]

Place a small rock on top of the xenia, but dont completely cover it. The xenia will climb onto the rock and once it does you can relocate it. This will be your best bet as it will move naturally leaving nothing behind. You could peel it off but the slightest spec will turn into a new one.

With this work? It doesn't seem like the Xenia is traveling in that way, instead of moving, it's spreading. So if I placed a rock on top of it, it'll cover it, sure, but won't it stay attached to the original rock, too?

 

[melypr1985]

With this work? It doesn't seem like the Xenia is traveling in that way, instead of moving, it's spreading. So if I placed a rock on top of it, it'll cover it, sure, but won't it stay attached to the original rock, too?

It could very well work. I've had that happen a few times too. Give it a try, it's not going to hurt anything to try it.

 

[MermaidTail]

Awesome, thanks @trickedout900 and @melypr1985!

 

[4FordFamily]

My bet is that the xenia will eventually smother the sun coral. But let's get some other opinions [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

Agree :/

 

[Shep]

Agree :/

+1

 

[reef123456]

I got xenia invaded one of my hammer coral and eventually irretate the hammer to melting. just my experience