How do you frag Xenia?

trainfever

trainfever

Active Member
I've been told to just put a piece of rubble rock nect to one of the stalks and that the Xenia will attach itself to the rock. How long are you supposed to let it touch? Whwnever I put a pice of rock next to one of my Xenia, it shrivels up. I then panic and move the rock away. How long will it take to have Xenia growing onto another rock and how do you know when to cut it free?
 
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reeffer

Guest
it shrivels because its irrated by the new rock, time is key in that method. I always prefer forced division. ( cut n band )
you can simply cut off a piece of the xenia, it doesnt really matter where(even if you cut the one whole piece off whats left on rock will grow back. Take a small piece of rock and rubber band the xenia to the rock, not to tight. The xenia will attach to the rock with in a day or two. Leave the rubber band on though. This method usually will produce two new stalks ( one on each side of the rubber band.) i have done this for a long time works good.
 
trainfever

trainfever

Active Member
How do I cut them?scissors? razor blade? Do I take them out of the tank while I cut them or do it while they are still in the tank?
 
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reeffer

Guest
i bought some of the cheap stanless steel medical scissors. the small ones, they are very sharp. The ones with a little curve are nice for getting a straight cut.
i leave them in when i make the actual cut, just so the stalk stays up, if you take it out it falls over. to put the piece on the rock take the new piece out w/ the rock and do it, other wise its hard to hold xenia still.
 
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reeffer

Guest
the first time can be scary, but trust me with good water quality they will reproduce like weeds. i had one stalk that i started with, a year later i have been selling them back to the store i bought them from originally.
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
I've tried both, and reeffer is right. If your Xenia is growing well, just put a piece of LR rubble next to it and wait. It sounds like you are waiting hours. A week or so is what's needed. The closer the rock, the quicker it will work. Once it's attached to the new rock, reach into the tank with a razor blade in hand, and slice right through the tissue connecting the original piece and the new piece of rock together. It couldn't be simpler.
...oh yeah... be sure to use a new razor blade. You don't want rust getting into your water.
 
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