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Pom Pom Xenia
Scientific Name
Xenia umbellata
Common Names
Pom Pom Xenia, Waving Hand Coral, Glove Coral
Origin
South Pacific
Lighting
High
Current
Moderate to high
Agressiveness
Low, but may become invasive under heavy growth.
Pom Pom Xenia are usually white, tan, or gray. The polyps are not retractable, but do have the distinctive eight-leaved tentacles associated with all of the members of this family. Xenia are colonial animals. They have thicker stems, and when several polyps are present on their leathery base, they resemble a cheerleader's pom-pom. Pom Pom Xenia are easily mistaken as Anthelia because of their similar polyp structure. Anthelia polyps however grow individually from an encrusting web or mat, rather than from thick stalks like xenia.
Predatory fish, crabs, snails, or contact with other corals may damage the colony quite easily. Therefore, provide adequate space between them and sessile animals, especially other types of soft corals. They require a medium to high light level combined with a medium to strong water movement within the aquarium. For continued good health, they will also require the addition of iodine and other trace elements to the water.
Under ideal conditions, and once acclimated, they may reproduce rapidly in the established reef aquarium. The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within their bodies provide the majority of their nutritional requirements through photosynthesis. This coral also absorbs phosphates but releases ammonia.
This particular species reproduces by growing a "foot" on the stalk. The stalk will then lean over and take hold of whatever it comes in contact with it. It can litterally take hold in a matter of minutes. This stalk will then separate over a weeks time. Many soon realize that the growth rate of this coral becomes a nuisance. In addition, any fragment of this coral will grow into a whole new stalk.
Goss George 09/05/2003
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