Accidental Duncan

[TankYouVeryMuch]

I got a cheap frag from my LFS that was supposed to be some pulsing Xenia (I know, I know). It’s not pulsing, but whatever…however while looking at the frag I saw something emerge from the rock which I at first thought might be a majano. A bit more sleuthing and I think that the frag is actually a small piece of a Duncan with three heads on it, from which very short tips occasionally emerge (they recede quickly if I bump the tank). It’s becoming more vibrant greenish at the heads, but I’m new to this and never owned an LPS coral before. Are there any suggestions to encourage it to recover and grow? It’s currently lying sideways on the rock as I’m trying to get the Xenia to grow out. Does it need to be upright, or is this OK? I’m hesitant to mess with it since it seems to be at least somewhat happy with how things are currently.

 

[JayM]

My guess would be Aiptasia before Duncan. I've never seen a Duncan retract quickly. Hard to say for sure without good pics.

 

[TankYouVeryMuch]

It’s not aiptasia, of that I’m confident. If they are majano, then they all coincidentally are growing directly out of the former coral heads, but the heads themselves are glowing green which indicates to me they’re alive.

I’ll try and take photos, but it’s difficult with my phone. If I touch it, they’ll retract.

 

[TankYouVeryMuch]

 

[JTP424]

I'd say maybe a candy cane coral.

 

[TankYouVeryMuch]

The three heads are growing towards the left in the bottom photo. The base structure is some type of stony coral. The heads are currently retracted.

 

[JTP424]

The three heads are growing towards the left in the bottom photo. The base structure is some type of stony coral. The heads are currently retracted.

Then yea maybe a duncan! HAve to see the polyps extended to know for sure.
Get some photos in white lights :)

 

[TankYouVeryMuch]

I'd say maybe a candy cane coral.

The photos are misleading because the little tentacles are currently retracted. Do any types of candy cane have tentacles?

 

[TankYouVeryMuch]

Then yea maybe a duncan! HAve to see the polyps extended to know for sure.
Get some photos in white lights :)

You were actually right the first time, it is a candy cane. What I’m seeing are sweeper tentacles (I found another post on here with photos). Not I have to figure out how to keep it alive. ;)