Duncan Coral care guide
Duncan Coral (Duncanopsammia axifuga) — reef coral, 24-26 °C, PAR 50-175, salinity 1.024-1.026.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Duncan Coral (Duncanopsammia axifuga) is a branching LPS from northern Australia. The corallites are tipped with fleshy fluorescent green polyps and long whisker-like tentacles, and the species is widely regarded as one of the most beginner-friendly LPS in the trade.
Taxonomy
- Family: Dendrophylliidae
- Genus: Duncanopsammia
- Scientific name: Duncanopsammia axifuga
- Common synonyms: Duncan, Whisker Coral
Habitat
Native to subtropical and tropical reefs of northern Australia. Wild colonies occur on rocky substrates of inshore reefs, often in slightly turbid water rich in suspended particulate food.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- Salinity (SG): 1.024-1.026
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Alkalinity (dKH): 8-11
- Calcium: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Phosphate (max): 0.05 ppm
- Nitrate (max): 10 ppm
Placement and lighting
- Lighting (PAR): 50-175 PAR
- Flow: medium
- Recommended tank age: 3 months
- Growth rate: 0.3-0.7 cm/mo
Position on rockwork or a sandbed in the middle of the aquarium with moderate light and gentle to medium flow. The coral readily acclimates to a wide range of placements and tolerates a fairly broad range of conditions.
Feeding
Both photosynthetic and a strong responder to spot-feeding. Feed mysis, brine shrimp or reef-roids two to three times per week to accelerate growth and propagation.
Compatibility
Passive and non-stinging. Compatible with most other corals in a mixed reef. Reef-safe with shrimp and fish; avoid placing directly under aggressive Euphylliidae sweepers.
Care notes
One of the most robust LPS for cycling-aged tanks. New polyp buds appear at the base of older heads and can be fragged once well-developed.
Duncan Coral (Duncanopsammia axifuga) Propagation Guide
Overview
Duncanopsammia axifuga, the Duncan coral, is a large-polyp stony coral in the family Dendrophylliidae. Its polyps form a structure branching at irregular intervals to build a large colony, with each polyp carrying a wide, flat, circular disc 2-3 cm across and thin whisker-like tentacles. This branching, colonial growth makes it one of the easier LPS corals to propagate.
Reproductive Mode
In aquaria the Duncan is propagated asexually by separating polyps from the colony. Because the heads branch off a shared skeletal base, individual or grouped polyps can be detached and grown out into new colonies. The species is popular partly for its relatively easy care and the fast rate at which it grows, so frags fill in quickly.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
- Identify branches where one or more polyps come off the colony's base.
- Separate polyps from the base of the coral, snapping or cutting through the skeleton below a head.
- Take frags with at least one full polyp and a piece of its own branch.
- Glue or epoxy each frag to a plug.
- Place frags in low to moderate flow and medium light to recover and resume growth.
Because Duncans grow fast, a frag will often add new branching heads within weeks once it settles.
Conditions for Propagation
Duncans appreciate low to moderate current that brings food to the polyps, along with medium light. Stable temperature around 24-26 degrees Celsius, pH 8.1-8.4, and steady alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium support fast skeletal growth on the new frags.
Common Challenges
Duncans are forgiving, so the main considerations are giving each frag enough flow to deliver food and feeding to fuel their quick growth. Target feeding can be supplemented by dispensing food such as mysis onto the polyps' tentacles, which speeds recovery and branching.