Xenia sp.
| Care Level | Easy |
| Lighting | Low to moderate |
| Water Flow | Low to moderate |
| Placement | Mid to upper rock |
| Aggression | Peaceful, but spreads fast |
| Coloration | Cream, tan, or pink pulsing polyps |
Overview
Pulsing Xenia is famous for its mesmerizing, rhythmic “pulsing” — its feathery polyps open and close like tiny grasping hands. It is a hardy, fast-growing soft coral that thrives in nutrient-rich tanks and is a popular, hypnotic beginner coral.
Care & Placement
Xenia does best in low-to-moderate light and gentle-to-moderate flow. Ironically it often pulses more strongly in slightly “dirtier” water. Place it where its spread can be controlled, as it propagates quickly across rock.
Feeding
Largely photosynthetic and absorbs nutrients directly from the water; it generally does not need target feeding. Some keepers find it thrives without any direct feeding at all.
Propagation
Frag by snipping a stalk near the base and letting it attach to a plug wedged in rubble (it can be tricky to glue). It spreads readily on its own.
Cautions
A rapid spreader that can overtake rockwork — isolate it or prune regularly. Pulsing can stop temporarily after moves or parameter swings; usually resumes once settled.