Worried about my duncan

[strange_reefer13]

So I came home today after being away for a couple days (I had my friend watch the tank for me) and the heads of my Duncan coral looked smaller than normal and the tentacles looked shriveled. My friend did not mention anything wrong with the tank, talked to him everyday. I decided to feed the corals and they readily ate all the mysis I offered. Ever since then the Duncans haven't opened back up, staying completely closed into the stalk. All water parameters are fine. Wondering what could be wrong?

The coral was healthy when I left. At night, before I left, and again today when they closed up, I have counted 4 new heads that have grown since i got the coral (the biggest growth only half the circumference of a pencil eraser). Is this normal duncan behavior or is there something wrong with the coral? I thought its a sign of being healthy if a coral is eating and growing!!!

P.S. Ill post a pic tomorrow, turned off the lights for tonight.

 

[Verduzco]

yeah, post a pic. I fragged some duncans and they remained closed for several days, actually damaged a head in the process, but have bounced back. Pretty resilient coral. Should be ok but picture would help clarify issue.

 

[totion]

What is your temp. My Duncan have been closed up for a week, my tank gets to 84 sometimes when my brother turns the fan off to save electricity. It is usually 80. I feed them when they are open and afterwards they open more, but then close completely. Until now I've had great growth, went from 2 heads to 14 in under a year...

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[jservedio]

Just watch it - duncans can be finicky - it should open in a few days. If after 2 weeks it doesn't open, it likely won't ever open again. Some corals are really good and can be closed for months at a time after a really bad stress and still pull through (and just open up one day) - but duncans aren't one of those corals. Good thing is they are really cheap if you are unlucky and it doesn't bounce back (unless it was some crazy aussie duncan)

 

[SeymourDuncan]

That is strange, I have an Aussie Duncan that I fragged and the dremel caught the largest head wrong and exploded all over me. It was about 2 weeks of being closed before some of the heads started popping out. Was the mysis expired, frost bit, or still frozen by chance?


"Live like tomorrow already happened. Yesterday is only 3 days ahead. Today will be here soon." And a link to my tanks https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123851

 

[strange_reefer13]

Here some pictures

This is what they normally look like

 

[strange_reefer13]

That is strange, I have an Aussie Duncan that I fragged and the dremel caught the largest head wrong and exploded all over me. It was about 2 weeks of being closed before some of the heads started popping out. Was the mysis expired, frost bit, or still frozen by chance?


"Live like tomorrow already happened. Yesterday is only 3 days ahead. Today will be here soon." And a link to my tanks Links to my tanks (past and present)

Actually the mysis i fed was a little dried out, might of been a little frost bitten (was half a cube leftover in the freezer). I have done this before I didn't realize that was a bad thing to do.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

I haven't experienced freezer burned fish food but I've tasted a steak that got it and eww! I wanted to bury my own head for 2 weeks. I imagine it would be bad...anyone out there have this problem? My corals and fish eat to fast lol.


"Live like tomorrow already happened. Yesterday is only 3 days ahead. Today will be here soon." And a link to my tanks https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123851

 

[nova65ss]

Duncans are pretty hardy. Do you have any shrimp like cleaners or peppermints? I have found they love to nibble on duncans.

 

[strange_reefer13]

Duncans are pretty hardy. Do you have any shrimp like cleaners or peppermints? I have found they love to nibble on duncans.

No nothing of that nature just a tricolor fairy wrasse who doesn't bother the coral at all

 

[strange_reefer13]

That picture is from this morning once the lights came on. Now the duncans are completely closed up. All the other corals are puffed up nicely or fully opened. I don't wanna lose them especially with them growing new heads

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Another thing about them, at least from what I've seen one do in another tank is stay closed while growing..maybe it is forming skeletal growth? I got a big one and fragged it down so I haven't really witnessed much more than just the healing and up to where its at now. My gorgonian does close up when growing. Might be just that as well.


"Live like tomorrow already happened. Yesterday is only 3 days ahead. Today will be here soon." And a link to my tanks https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123851

 

[totion]

I just realized mine has been acting like this since I started dosing vitamin c...

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[SeymourDuncan]

Maybe try Flintstone's vitamins for a week? J/k. The vitamin c could be causing it to grow maybe...I know most animals grow faster while sleeping. Again just a theory. I'm working my way up to a laboratory. Lol...when I get there ill try some controlled experiments.

In the meantime don't try to feed it...feed the other things and if it wants to eat it will sense it and open up.


"Live like tomorrow already happened. Yesterday is only 3 days ahead. Today will be here soon." And a link to my tanks https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123851

 

[strange_reefer13]

Thanks for the help, its deff helped ease some stress. Hopefully this because of the growth :smile:. The next feeding is in two day so hopefully the will be open by then. Will give an update in a couple of days.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Awesome, best of luck! Can't wait to hear


"Live like tomorrow already happened. Yesterday is only 3 days ahead. Today will be here soon." And a link to my tanks https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123851

 

[strange_reefer13]

So I redid my aquascape and moved my duncans to a lower flow area and they are starting to open back up again. all the heads are open but they are not as big as they were before the close. The flow is very low actually but im afraid to touch them again in case I upset them anymore. Think im gonna try and spot feed them tonight and see what happens. Any opinions?

 

[jservedio]

Your duncans are fine - they just aren't fully open. When they are "closed" the ENTIRE surface, mouth, and all tentacles are ALL the way inside the stem. You only need to worry when you don't see ANY part of your duncan exposed for more than a week or two.

 

[strange_reefer13]

Your duncans are fine - they just aren't fully open. When they are "closed" the ENTIRE surface, mouth, and all tentacles are ALL the way inside the stem. You only need to worry when you don't see ANY part of your duncan exposed for more than a week or two.

Thank you