Duncan coral (Duncanopsammia axifuga) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Whisker coral, Duncan, Green stem duncan
Family
Dendrophylliidae
Origin
Mainly northern and western Australia, on soft-bottom and rubble areas
Water
saltwater
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–10
Care level
beginner
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
Low to moderate (Top Shelf Aquatics)
Flow
Low to moderate, indirect

Care

The Duncan coral is a branching LPS coral: each tube-shaped stem ends in a large fleshy polyp with a ring of short tentacles. Top Shelf Aquatics describes the common form with a bright green skeletal base and lists named forms such as TSA Slam, TSA Evergreen and White Knight. Top Shelf Aquatics rates it easy and forgiving in mixed reefs. Place it in the lower to middle part of the rockwork with low to moderate light and gentle, variable flow that moves the tentacles without folding them over the skeleton. Water: Top Shelf Aquatics recommends 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, salinity 1.025–1.026, calcium 400–450 ppm, alkalinity 8–10 dKH and magnesium 1,250–1,350 ppm. It says stable alkalinity, calcium, salinity and temperature help polyps extend well and new heads form. Growth is moderate, and regular feeding speeds up new heads. Selling: this is a CITES Appendix II coral. Frags grown in the UK can be sold freely; wild-collected or imported pieces must have been legally imported with CITES paperwork. Sources: Top Shelf Aquatics (topshelfaquatics.com/pages/corals/green-stem-duncan-coral). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Photosynthetic, but it feeds eagerly. Top Shelf Aquatics suggests mysis, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood and coral pellets; regular small feedings speed up growth.

Breeding

Easy to frag: each head grows on its own stem, so cut a stem with one or more heads using bone cutters and glue it to a plug. Captive-grown frags are widely available.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful (Top Shelf Aquatics). Leave 5–10 cm around the colony so the expanded polyps do not touch neighbours. Clownfish sometimes host in it.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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