Is My Duncan Splitting?

[Cdavis66]

Anyone think this is splitting? I've had it for just over 3 months now and it finally closed up enough during a blackout to notice these possible heads.

Also I have noticed that my purple torch is not closing fully at night... Is that a problem? It fully extends during the day but never fully pulls in its tentacles to where I can see the flesh band.

Also on a side conversation I picked up a couple of clowns last Saturday that were singled out and the only 2 in the tank at my lfs. I was assuming it was a pair as it was a deal to buy the two together. I have had some fighting going on when the lights are on. I ordered a breeder box that will be here tomorrow and going to leave one in it for a week or so and see how they get along after that. They are close in size but looking closer one is bigger in length and girth.

 

[Dr4gula.f32]

Looks like a new head to me. But I'm unsure if "split" is the correct term for this kind of coral. It's more of a sprout lol

 

[Cthulukelele]

Yeah that's what new duncan heads look like. They they grow their own little stalks

 

[Cdavis66]

Looks like a new head to me. But I'm unsure if "split" is the correct term for this kind of coral. It's more of a sprout lol

Yeah I guess a sprout lol.
Yayy! Will they grow around the rocks or do I need to move it to give it more space?

 

[Cthulukelele]

Yeah I guess a sprout lol.
Yayy! Will they grow around the rocks or do I need to move it to give it more space?

Their growth is defined by the light and will self regulate. Most Duncans grow stalks into a ball to maximize light absorbance.

 

[Cdavis66]

Their growth is defined by the light and will self regulate. Most Duncans grow stalks into a ball to maximize light absorbance.

With you're meaning of a ball are you saying that rather than branching?

 

[Cthulukelele]

With you're meaning of a ball are you saying that rather than branching?

They "branch" little stalks where the head grows, but the only purpose of the branches is usually to align all the heads into a big ball. Does that make sense?

 

[Dburr1014]

That Duncan looks super healthy!

 

[Cdavis66]

They "branch" little stalks where the head grows, but the only purpose of the branches is usually to align all the heads into a big ball. Does that make sense?

Ahh yes! Thank you!

 

[Cdavis66]

That Duncan looks super healthy!

Thank you! It was my first coral I am new to the hobby still figuring everything out.

 

[Cthulukelele]

I looked up an image online with a few heads closed to give a visual representation. You can see the "branches" but how wen open its goal is to make a big hungry light absorbing ball

 

[Cdavis66]

I looked up an image online with a few heads closed to give a visual representation. You can see the "branches" but how wen open its goal is to make a big hungry light absorbing ball

Yes that makes sense.

 

[twentyleagues]

There are branching types of duncan. I havent seen any in real life but i've seen them on youtube.

 

[Cthulukelele]

There are branching types of duncan. I havent seen any in real life but i've seen them on youtube.

Yeah I've also had the same experience. I've seen a few on the internet, but every one I've seen irl as a colony has been a big ball

 

[Dburr1014]

There are branching types of duncan. I havent seen any in real life but i've seen them on youtube.

They branch to make a ball.
Or are you saying something else?

 

[Cdavis66]

They branch to make a ball.
Or are you saying something else?

They're talking about something like this I believe.

 

[Cthulukelele]

They're talking about something like this I believe.

Would be an awesome show piece with that growth pattern

 

[twentyleagues]

They branch to make a ball.
Or are you saying something else?

something else. not a ball form at all.

 

[Cthulukelele]

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the "branching" Duncans seen online just haven't grown in the heads to fill space and ball out yet.

 

[twentyleagues]

They're talking about something like this I believe.

even that one would probably look more like a ball once it filled in. The ones ive seen that are "branching" have a central "stalk" that grows longer over time with heads and other branches spaced inches apart.