Alien Eye Candy Cane Coral

About this coral

This striking Caulastrea coral features vibrant, neon-green centers surrounded by rich, fleshy outer rings, resembling alien eyes. Thriving in moderate lighting and gentle water flow, this hardy LPS coral adds a bright, otherworldly touch to any reef aquarium.

Care Guide
Candy Cane Coral (Caulastrea) is a hardy, fast-growing LPS named for its striped, tube-like corallites. It does well under low to moderate lighting and gentle to moderate flow, and readily multiplies via natural branching, making it a great value long-term.

Placement: Lower to middle rockwork with gentle, indirect flow.

CARE INFORMATION

Lighting	Medium — PAR 100–200
Flow	Medium
Feeding	Medium
Placement	Mid rockwork
Care level	Intermediate
Water parameters	Salinity 1.025–1.026 · Temp 76–78°F · Alk 8–9 dKH · Ca 420–440 · Mg 1300–1400

What to expect when it arrives

Duncans ship with polyps retracted into their tubes and the tentacles pulled in tight. Float the sealed bag 15 minutes, drip acclimate 30 to 45 minutes, and place it in moderate light and moderate flow. Duncans are among the faster LPS to recover from shipping and most will show partial extension the same day.

Placement and feeding

Duncans are forgiving on placement and will do well anywhere from the sand bed to the mid rockwork. They are one of the most enthusiastic feeders in the hobby — a Duncan will grab food aggressively and visibly, which makes it one of the more rewarding corals to keep and an easy one to confirm is healthy.

Feed two or three times a week with small meaty food and the growth response is dramatic. Duncans that are fed regularly split into new heads faster than almost any other LPS.

Growth and fragging

A healthy Duncan produces new heads on the periphery continuously, and a three-head frag commonly becomes eight or ten within a year when fed. Heads grow on separate stalks, which makes fragging simple: cut the stalk cleanly below the head and glue to a plug.

Compatibility

Duncans are mild and do not have long sweepers, but that means they lose to almost everything. Keep them out of reach of Euphyllia, chalices and brains. Some tangs and angels pick at extended Duncan tentacles; a colony that stays retracted with good water and flow is usually being harassed.