Are there two kinds of Duncans?

twinspots_goby · Sep 17, 2009

I noticed that there is a branching type of duncan. And there is a non branching type and they look like Gonipora when close up. I wondered if there is any other type out there.

Paul_N · Sep 17, 2009

I don't think so. I think it has to do with where you place them in the tank. I got my 3 head frag from someone that had longer branches and I now have around 30 heads and they grow really tight together but I have always kept mine right under my MH lights. If I remember correctly he had them on the back wall in the corner. Not sure just an observation.

ca2or · Sep 17, 2009

My belief is there are more than 2. I have seen several color variations, but mine seem to have very big heads compared to others I see....like between 2 and 3 inches.

Paul_N · Sep 17, 2009

I have seen tons of pictures of other colors but never in person. One place said theirs were purple/blue but when I saw them in person they were just like the green ones I had with actinic T5's on them and when you put under 14k the color was gone. Dunno would love to get some other than green.

ca2or · Sep 17, 2009

I have seen all purple, and pink and green personally. But have seen pic's of several different ones. Try google'ing multi color duncan coral and see what comes up

Paul_N · Sep 17, 2009

I would definitely love to get some pink and purple ones. I'll have to do some searchin'

ca2or · Sep 17, 2009

Pretty much everyone's looks like this right?

twinspots_goby · Sep 17, 2009

This is the branching type I'm talking about.

Duncan's Whisker Coral - Barrier Reef Aquariums

stunreefer · Sep 17, 2009

There's only one recognized Species of Duncanopsammia, and it's Duncanopsammia axifuga, however they can be found in varying colors and growth patterns. It's based upon light, flow, how much and what they eat. In lower light and flow they tend to branch out more (reaching for light and food), and in higher light and flow (and fed frequently) they "plate" or "ball" more.

plainrt · Sep 17, 2009

I started with a branch like frag and mine got new heads so fast it grew into a big chunk but now is starting to branch out now.I was told this is common with them as it can take over a year to start branching off

Sikryd · Sep 17, 2009

As far as species, I'm not sure if there is more than one. I haven't done much reading in the COTW on them.
Personal observation - I have seen big heads, little heads, ones that branch out, and some that grow into a softball style.

My favorites are ones that are small heads and multi-colored.
Its one of the few pieces I am still looking for. I'm pretty picky, so it might be a while

Azurel · Sep 17, 2009

There can be variable growth forms within the same species. As well as color forms and all remain in the same species with no DNA difference. Just like zoanthids you can 2 of the same species of zoanthids and have different colors. Environment will also have a tendency to dictate growth forms in the species in different locations and under different environments and both still remain the same species. As far as I know this is only one Duncanopsammia axifuga species.

plainrt · Sep 17, 2009

I have seen two different color duncans from the same mother.My brother and i bought frag at same time from same person and after bit he gave me his and when put in my tank they were alot different looking size wise and color.

roscoe · Sep 17, 2009

I've seen a few different colors but I think they are all branching in the wild but in home aquaria the flesh grows much faster than the branching skeleton. Thus that is why you see many pics of the polyps growing tightly together and most of the time in the shape of a ball.

bayoukid89 · Jun 16, 2022

This is my new Duncan I was able to grab this week
before we got on the air plane
the blue was the next morning in the tank

bayoukid89 · Jun 16, 2022

This is the mother colony

encrustingacro · Feb 4, 2024

stunreefer said:
There's only one recognized Species of Duncanopsammia, and it's Duncanopsammia axifuga, however they can be found in varying colors and growth patterns. It's based upon light, flow, how much and what they eat. In lower light and flow they tend to branch out more (reaching for light and food), and in higher light and flow (and fed frequently) they "plate" or "ball" more.

Actually there's two: axifuga and peltata.