Duncan Coral

About

Duncan coral (Duncanopsammia axifuga) is one of those LPS corals that genuinely rewards you for watching it. Unlike many stony corals that retract at the slightest disturbance, Duncans extend their tentacles continuously, day and night, to the point where the flowing mass of polyps can completely hide the underlying skeletal structure of the colony. In the wild, this species grows in phaceloid colonies: long, tube-like corallites that fork off at irregular intervals and face upward, each one roughly a centimeter across. Coloration tends toward green or a cool blue-grey. Naturally found in the Western Central Pacific, including waters around the Philippines, wild colonies typically grow deeper than 20 meters, anchored to hard substrate in areas where sandy sediment is the norm. In the aquarium, Duncans are a reasonable choice for hobbyists who have moved past their first reef tank and have a stable system running. They prefer lower light levels and moderate water movement, which suits their deeper-water origins. While generally not an aggressor in the same league as some LPS corals, they should still be given enough space away from neighboring corals and any anemones that might wander into contact with them.