Eating my Xenia?

[drehere]

I've had my xenia for 6-8 months with some modest growth, but not taking over like many see.

I guess it was late last week or over the weekend I swear something has come by and chomped it all up. It didn't shrivel up, but overnight stalks would nothing but a stump and jagged leftovers. Certainly looked as if it were eaten. As of last night, there are still some stump remnants that look somewhat healed and I wouldn't be surprised if it start coming back.

Is there anything that would have all of a sudden decided to eat it? Or might something else cause such a quick reaction?

Inhabitants are 1 saddleback clown, couple of peppermint shrimp, various snails and hermits, couple of brittle stars and one small starfish.
Corals include leathers, acros, star polyps (acres), open brain, frogspawn. Only the star polyps are even in close proximity.

[Andrew]

I would guess it's the peppermint shrimp, I had them decimate some button polyps before I discoverd who it was - and got rid of the the shrimp.

[dan]

the only time i'v had problem with zenia is when my ph is to low or the heat is to high. it's more on the ph though.

[theedprado]

i have a damsel that eats it.

[drehere]

Peppermint shrimp never seemed to care before. (I always think they are funnny in that they go wild when I put in some Myces (sp?) shrimp or feed shrimp bits to the anemones (forgot to mention those in the tank, but very far away) - cannibals. Buggers will steal right out of the hands of the frogspawn.

Got them for the aiptasia - don't seem to eat them though. Would the aiptasia be a problem if there's some close that I haven't noticed?

As for the heat or ph, the temp is fairly constant between 76-80 depending on time of day and I admit I haven't checked pH in a while. But wouldn't I expect the xenia to clinch up or not pulse or shrivel?

[GaryP]

Nor much will eat Xenia but occasionally you will here about something that will, like Ed's damsel. There doesn't seem to be any good rule about it.

As for the aiptasia, there are true peppermints and something that look like them that won't eat it. You are better off trying Berghia nudibranchs. That's all they eat. Drop a note to Instar, he raises them.

[eric]

Whatever happened, it didn't kill the xenia off. It's starting to sprout like the plants and trees in the garden.

Maybe hydroid damaged it? I only just saw the thread on hydroid of which I always thought were aiptasia.

(formerly known as "drehere" - "Eric" makes a little more sense.)

[Salty]

Chocolate Chip stars will eat Xenia (and others) like candy. Is that small star a Chip?

[eric]

No, it's not a chocolate chip, but I realize I've never attempted to identify it. I haven't had any luck finding a picture similar. This is it; another hitch-hiker on some yellow polyps if I remember correctly from CB Pets (guess I should thank Richard)

http://www.austinsailingsociety.com/nuke/modules.php?set_albumName=album02&id=star&op=modlo ad&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

[brewercm]

I had a green serpent that ate one stalk before. I think the only reason it took it was because it came off the rock I was attempting to attach it to.