Mobile Bay Reef Keepers

I have a Candy Cane Coral (sorry guys - I don't know the real name) on which the "heads" continue to divide, however, it never grows new branchs. What can I do to promote branching (see pic. below)? BTY - I've had the frag. for about 6 months. It is fed directly twice a week with brine shrimp, plankton, or flakes -- all of which have really improved the color and frequency with which the heads divide.

Well in my experience if the heads are continuing to divide you are well on your way to some branch extension. Each new head will grow a branch under it! Candy Canes will not sprout a new branch from the base like some SPS varieties. The only living tissue is just the soft tissue you can see at the end of each branch.. As the heads divide, new branches are started and they continue to march along leaving a trail of skeleton behind. Just make sure your calcium content is sufficient and be patient, it's doing exactly what you want it too..

JT

The extent and degree of branching will vary based upon species (all of which are Caulastrea spp.) and overall conditions within the aquarium. The former, however, will have a greater impact as far as the morphology of these corals is concerned.

Give it plenty of Ca, feed it every once in a while, make sure you have it in good light (not too much) and time. The one that I has started pretty small and ended up fairly large. Once it really gets acclimated it will start growing and as the polyps divide they will grow out and branch so that it looks fuller.