Is my Duncan dying?

[Red254]

So I got a Duncan frag about a week ago and everything seemed fine. It opened up in about an 2 hours and had one main head and another smaller head on its side. It's been eating brine shrimp every other day.

But I just came home from work and noticed it tenticals were shortened and it mouth was open and it's color wasn't as vibrant as it has been. I'm not sure but it kind of looks like a 3rd head it's starting to grow out the side

Should I be worried?


Water Param's

Temp 78
Gravity 1.023
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

I did a water change yesterday and the only thing I can think of is that I did use a new bag of IO reef crystals


P.S. while I'm writing this I noticed a small black ball ( best way to describe it) is coming out of its mouth now

 

[Red254]

Also all of my other corals are doing great ( mushrooms and polyups)

 

[staindsoul]

I'm newer, so take this with a grain of salt.

Your salinity could be higher, most guys here run at 1.025-1.026 it will help keep alk/cal/mag and traces a little higher.

I have heard most guys saying they target feed once a week. I haven't even target fed mine yet after two weeks, just letting them get used to tank. Every other day "may" be excessive on that.

The black stuff sounds like poopin.

 

[Red254]

I might be feeding it too much but would that kill it? Ive read about a lot of people feeding it as much as I do

 

[philosophile]

How much light do you have on it? I've noticed my Duncan's get really cranky in high light. Put them closer to the bottom of the tank or give them some shade.

 

[staindsoul]

I might be feeding it too much but would that kill it? Ive read about a lot of people feeding it as much as I do

Shouldn't kill it. It doesn't sound like it's dying. It might not be happy, but I wouldn't freak.

Lighting like philosophile said, and how much flow do you have going on? Is it constantly waving or randomly ever couple of seconds?

 

[Red254]

It's about 6" from the bottom 16" from the light under two t5's should I move it lower?

 

[Red254]

It's in lower flow randomly moving

 

[cjk76]

Mine shrink up from time to time. Let us know if it doesn't bounce back.

 

[philosophile]

That doesn't sound too high... You just might have to wait for them to acclimate to your system. Don't feed them for now, since that'll only encourage them not to open up. Mine took about three weeks to get happy in my tank.

 

[usmc121581]

I have had this duncan for 1.5 years and it hasn't opened in just as long, also hasnt grown one head in that time. Everyone kept telling me its dieing, but it hasnt turned it and I just cant throw it in the sump seeing life still in it.

 

[nanoreef heaven]

can u post a pic

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent Pink Tapatalk 2

 

[JennyH]

But I just came home from work and noticed it tenticals were shortened and it mouth was open and it's color wasn't as vibrant as it has been. I'm not sure but it kind of looks like a 3rd head it's starting to grow out the side

Ever once in a while mine does this too. I've always assumed it was, I dunno, pooping? Usually its better the next day.

 

[kevl]

I've had a 15-20 head colony of Duncans for over a year now. Both my clowns host it and love it! It's shriveled, shrunken, and looked half dead at times but has always come back looking beautiful the next day or two.

In your case, It may be just something it's doing to adapt to it's new environment. I found that after spot feeding mine that it'd shrink up the next day which may be a result of digestion. It may also be adjusting to more food intake than what it's used to.

I've seen better growth and color closer to bottom of the tank, but everyone is going to have a different experience based on lighting, tank depth etc..

I don't feed them anymore since the Clowns take care of that now but good luck! Your parameters seem fine!

PS, with any new coral - I'd put them in the sand for 3-5 days for it to acclimate to the light. IME that seems to work well.