Blue xenia (cespitularia)

Care at a glance

Cespitularia is a soft octocoral with a tree-like structure and polyps that often carry a fluorescent blue or turquoise glow. In flow the whole colony sways, giving a lively look that few other corals can match.

It is more sensitive than it looks: when water quality drops or parameters become unstable, a colony can melt away within days. Give it moderate light, moderate to strong flow and above all stable conditions; with its fast growth it can also crowd out neighbours.

Related species

• Duncan coralDuncanopsammia axifuga
• Pom-pom xeniaHeteroxenia fuscescens
• Hammer coralEuphyllia ancora
• Pulsing xeniaXenia sp.
• Branching hammer coralEuphyllia paraancora
• Leather coralSarcophyton sp.