Duncans growing new heads question

[sditch]

Hello,

I got a Duncan that is doing great and now it looks like its gowing from 3 heads to 6 heads. The question I have is that it has not come out fully (the Heads) in the past 3 days. Is this expected behavier when they split?

 

[Bio-nut]

Duncans, like sun corals, typically will only come out when they are hungry. So your two options are to feed them at least twice a week, or put them into a low flow area where they will be more likely to catch more food when you feed. Target feed each head a few times anfd you will see them really start to grow.

 

[JM68]

I've never heard of them only opening when they r hungry. Unlike sun coral, duncans are photosynthetic and don't need to "eat" actual food to survive, where as sun coral do need to eat to survive. Mine are always open, but every now and then they will close for a day or two and not open fully. I think it might just be something they do from time to time, similar to wut softies do every now and then. As long as your water tests out ok i wouldnt worry to much they r a pretty tough coral.

 

[Teknagen]

They should be out when lights are on.
btw what do you feed yours duncans? I got one about 2 weeks ago and been just dropping pellets on them every other day.

 

[sditch]

I feed just SPS and LPS Coral food like rodifers, plankton and other other micros. They seem to really like the light and spend most of thier time out.

 

[JUICE!]

I have a couple of different duncans. They do stay out all the time, but aren't necessarily fully expanded all the time. Too much flow can keep them from opening, as well as too bright of light. Feeding will make them grow much faster, but isn't required. They will take just about any meaty foods.

I've noticed that when new polyps grow in, sometimes the full polyps won't be as big for while, but as the new polyps mature, they even back out.

If they stay completely closed for any length of time, there is probably some water quality issues. They should stay open all the time except when gobbling down food.

I have to disagree. Duncans are more like the red Dendros....they should stay open all the time unless they are unhappy from things like poor water, extreme light, or getting stung or physically damaged

~D

 

[pammy]

My Duncans are open all the time. Only 2 or 3 times where they weren't fully open for a day. I feed mine frozen mysis or enriched brine, and they gobble it all up. I went from 1 head, to 6 heads in about 3 or 4 months. I feed them every 2 or 3 days. I have a peppermint shrimp that doesn't leave their side, because he knows he can steal dinner from them when I feed them.
To show you how much these Duncans can eat...check out what I came home to a few months ago!!! I was so bummed. Clown was dead.

My Poor Clown / Aussie Duncan:

Aussie Duncan (same colony as above pic with clown fish)

 

[ct_vol]

I would be surpised if the Duncan killed the clown... Not to say that it isn't possible... I have Duncans with clown pairs in multiple tanks. They often woller around in the Duncans, as they would an anenome with no ill effects... One pair even prefers the Duncans to a GBTA...

Duncans should be extended all the time like Dendros... I feed mine mysis and sometimes pieces of Silversides... Pelleted food is not the best thing for LPS...

 

[killagoby]

Rod's Foods work well...

 

[pammy]

Hey Randy. I agree. The clown must have been on it's way out, although the clown did seem fine the night before, and the Duncan just got lucky was able to get a big snack. I only had that clown for about 2 weeks, and never saw him try to host in anything. He was pretty small. I really was shocked to find him in the Duncan. I couldn't even tell if he was alive or dead. As soon as I picked up the Duncan, the clown fell out of his mouth.
I'd love to get another Duncan. It is an beautiful Coral. That and my Sun Coral are my favs in my tank. Do the Duncans come in many color variations?
Thanks, Pam

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11965317#post11965317 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ct_vol
I would be surpised if the Duncan killed the clown... Not to say that it isn't possible... I have Duncans with clown pairs in multiple tanks. They often woller around in the Duncans, as they would an anenome with no ill effects... One pair even prefers the Duncans to a GBTA...

Duncans should be extended all the time like Dendros... I feed mine mysis and sometimes pieces of Silversides... Pelleted food is not the best thing for LPS...

 

[ct_vol]

Some of the smaller ones have some different pigments... But they're mostly shades of white... I prefer the larger green ones...

 

[sditch]

My Duncan heads are out now after 3 days, Looks like Im going from 3 heads to 6-7 heads it looks like.