{"product_id":"duncan-coral-duncanopsammia-axifuga-saltwater","title":"Duncan Coral (Duncanopsammia axifuga)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;line-height:1.7;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E0F7FA;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eDuncan Coral\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eDuncanopsammia axifuga\u003c\/em\u003e), also called the Whisker Coral, is one of the best LPS corals you can pick for a first reef tank and a favorite of seasoned collectors too. Each fleshy polyp opens into a disc of flowing tentacles over a vivid green to teal center, and healthy colonies sway gently in the current all day long. Duncans are peaceful, forgiving, and quick to sprout new heads, so a single polyp genuinely grows into a colony over time. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/corals\"\u003elive coral selection\u003c\/a\u003e to build out your reef.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSize Options\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSingle Head:\u003c\/strong\u003e one healthy polyp, the classic starter frag.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDouble Head:\u003c\/strong\u003e two polyps on one base, already on its way to colony shape.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMini Colony:\u003c\/strong\u003e a cluster of several heads with real presence in the tank.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColony (10+):\u003c\/strong\u003e ten or more heads, an instant centerpiece.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLighting:\u003c\/strong\u003e moderate. Duncans do well anywhere from 50 to 150 PAR and adapt to most reef lighting. Acclimate slowly if your tank runs bright.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlow:\u003c\/strong\u003e low to moderate. Enough movement to keep detritus off the polyps, gentle enough that the tentacles can stay extended.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlacement:\u003c\/strong\u003e lower rockwork or the sand bed. Leave a little room around the colony, the polyps expand much larger than the skeleton suggests.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e 75 to 80°F, salinity 1.024 to 1.026, pH 8.1 to 8.4, alkalinity 8 to 11 dKH, calcium 400 to 450 ppm, magnesium 1250 to 1350 ppm. Stability matters more than exact numbers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e photosynthetic, but target feeding once or twice a week speeds up growth noticeably. Duncans eagerly take \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/polyplab-reef-roids\"\u003eReef Roids\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/vitalis-lps-coral-soft-pellets-1-5mm\"\u003eLPS pellets\u003c\/a\u003e, and meaty frozen foods like \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/sfbb-mysis-shrimp-cube-3-5oz\"\u003emysis shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth:\u003c\/strong\u003e fast for an LPS. New heads bud from the base and sides, and a well fed frag can double its head count in a year.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:640px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eDuncanopsammia axifuga\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eDuncan Coral, Whisker Coral, Duncanops Coral\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eLPS, branching stony coral\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLighting\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eModerate (50 to 150 PAR)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eLow to moderate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlacement\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBottom to middle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReef safe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eAustralia, aquacultured lines available\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #B2EBF2;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuncans are model citizens on a reef. Their tentacles carry only a mild sting and they do not send out long sweepers, so they can sit closer to neighbors than most LPS. Still, give the colony a few inches of clearance from aggressive corals like torches and hammers, which will win any border dispute. Reef-safe fish and inverts ignore them, though a clownfish without an anemone may occasionally try to host in the polyps, which most Duncans tolerate but do not love.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Foods \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/polyplab-reef-roids\"\u003ePolypLab Reef Roids\u003c\/a\u003e, the classic target food for hungry LPS\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/vitalis-lps-coral-soft-pellets-1-5mm\"\u003eVitalis LPS Coral Soft Pellets\u003c\/a\u003e, sized perfectly for Duncan mouths\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/red-sea-reef-energy-ab-plus-coral-food-250-ml\"\u003eRed Sea Reef Energy AB+\u003c\/a\u003e, an easy broadcast feed for the whole reef\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/coralrx-one-shot-single-use-coral-dip\"\u003eCoralRx One-Shot Coral Dip\u003c\/a\u003e for a quick dip before any new coral goes in the tank\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEverything else in our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-water\"\u003esaltwater department\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #006064;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I have to feed my Duncan Coral?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo, its zooxanthellae produce most of what it needs under reef lighting. Feeding once or twice a week is optional but clearly speeds up budding and head growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy are the tentacles retracted?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNew arrivals often stay closed for a few days while they settle. Persistent retraction usually points to flow that is too strong, a recent parameter swing, or a fish picking at the polyps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill a single head really turn into a colony?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. Healthy Duncans bud new heads from the base and stalk, and with regular feeding a single polyp can become a small cluster within a year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs a Duncan safe with my other corals?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, it is one of the least aggressive LPS. Just keep it out of reach of long-sweeper corals like galaxea, torches, and hammers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Single Head","offer_id":49024978551003,"sku":"FRAG0114","price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Double Head","offer_id":49024978583771,"sku":"FRAG0085","price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Mini Colony","offer_id":49024978616539,"sku":"RTDCMC","price":79.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Colony (10+)","offer_id":49024978649307,"sku":"SW3610","price":149.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/duncan15werlg_jpg.webp?v=1784988965","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/duncan-coral-duncanopsammia-axifuga-saltwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}