Duncan Coral Growth Pattern

[A Toadstool Leather]

I have had a small duncan coral colony that has been steadily growing from a single polyp. Since the new heads have grown off of the single polyp is there any possibility for the coral to branch out or will it grow into a ball? I dont mind it not expanding too much because there are other corals nearby.

 

[absowry]

Typically Duncan's branch out in lower flows and they will stay compact in higher flows. I have mine in an erratic medium flow area and it is branching out quite nicely.

 

[timrocks311]

I was told by a vendor at a frag swap that there are branching Duncans and balling type Duncans. I was asking him because my Duncan is forming a ball and not branching out very much. It is in low to medium flow. I definitely have seen others that grow up more and branch, but mine sprouted babies around the stalk and stays compact. So I don't know, it could just be the type of Duncan you have.

 

[absowry]

I was told by a vendor at a frag swap that there are branching Duncans and balling type Duncans. I was asking him because my Duncan is forming a ball and not branching out very much. It is in low to medium flow. I definitely have seen others that grow up more and branch, but mine sprouted babies around the stalk and stays compact. So I don't know, it could just be the type of Duncan you have.

I have never heard of a balling Duncans. To my knowledge there is only one species of Duncan (Duncanopsammia axifuga) unlike say, hammer corals where you have Euphyllia Ancora for walling types and Euphyllia Paraancora for branching types.

 

[timrocks311]

I have never heard of a balling Duncans. To my knowledge there is only one species of Duncan (Duncanopsammia axifuga) unlike say, hammer corals where you have Euphyllia Ancora for walling types and Euphyllia Paraancora for branching types.

You might be right. That's just what I heard from a vendor once. Doesn't mean he's right. In my case, it could just mean that the Duncan I bought was cut back significantly and it might take quite a long time for it to start branching out again. I did buy a single head that is now about 15 heads but not branching out.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have had a small duncan coral colony that has been steadily growing from a single polyp. Since the new heads have grown off of the single polyp is there any possibility for the coral to branch out or will it grow into a ball? I dont mind it not expanding too much because there are other corals nearby.

Mine branched out but it depends on light and water flow and current shape as to what direction growth will occur

 

[Schnizzle]

I would say mine is "balling". The stick i acquired originally hasn't shown much growth but the number of polyps have exploded in the six months I've had it. I'll update my build thread with pics of it.