Bubble Coral Resurrection?

[JoJosReef]

This coral was pronounced Mostly Dead (but slightly alive) in March and has persisted more or less in this state since. The bubbles, however, have taken a more structured form lately and have tentacles.

Obviously the center of this coral where the mouth of the original is a wasteland, covered in baby aiptasia and Valonia. I will scrape out the Valonia tomorrow, probably.

In any case, I am wondering for the 4-5 clusters of bubbles that have been persisting, growing slightly, and forming more organized clusters, if they will begin producing skeleton and turn into actual heads, i.e., new corals. Or are these just flesh that keeps on keeping on and won't be able to develop new skeleton for growth. Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Science/G]

If you can do it safely, I would frag it and make a bunch of babies.

 

[JoJosReef]

If you can do it safely, I would frag it and make a bunch of babies.

Wish I had the skills for that!

 

[KrisReef]

Wish I had the skills for that!

If you can scrape bubble algae without killing the live coral then you probably have the skills to carefully extract the living coral and skeleton from the mostly dead original piece.

 

[Science/G]

Decades ago....I took a huge bubble that was dying in the display at the aquarium store I worked at and fragged it with a hammer and screwdriver. I saved three big sister from the colony.
I think in the long run, fragging them may be the best bet. That algae may overgrow them. Invest in a bone cutter if you're able, it will be a good tool for your kit. You can probably do it with butter knife and a cuticle cutter, though, that will take some time.

 

[Science/G]

Just think how cute all the sisters would look sitting next to each other.

 

[JoJosReef]

Decades ago....I took a huge bubble that was dying in the display at the aquarium store I worked at and fragged it with a hammer and screwdriver.
I think in the long run, fragging them may be the best bet. That algae may overgrow them. Invest in a bone cutter if you're able, it will be a good tool for your kit. You can probably do it with butter knife and a cuticle cutter, though, that will take some time.

I've got a demel with diamond circles for fragging that I'm loath to use. Maybe I'll give it a whirl...

 

[bluemon]

Decades ago....I took a huge bubble that was dying in the display at the aquarium store I worked at and fragged it with a hammer and screwdriver.
I think in the long run, fragging them may be the best bet. That algae may overgrow them. Invest in a bone cutter if you're able, it will be a good tool for your kit. You can probably do it with butter knife and a cuticle cutter, though, that will take some time.

I've got a demel with diamond circles for fragging that I'm loath to use. Maybe I'll give it a whirl...

Definitely use those over the bone cutters.

Bone cutters on lps have a tendency to fracture and break the whole branch.

Also, I’ve heard many stories of bubbles making miraculous recoveries, good luck to you!

 

[Danjoethepirate]

I have one that has regrown from small heads like that and has retaken over alot of skeleton. Not the best pic but you get the idea.

 

[exnisstech]

@Danjoethepirate image is encouraging. Since it is extending tentacles maybe give it some TLC and see how it goes?

PS maybe pull it and clean the old skeleton. Peroxide and a scrub? and blow it out to keep detritus from settling? Just throwing stuff out based on no experience.
My bubble algae is always where detritus builds up.

 

[JoJosReef]

@Danjoethepirate image is encouraging. Since it is extending tentacles maybe give it some TLC and see how it goes?

PS maybe pull it and clean the old skeleton. Peroxide and a scrub? and blow it out to keep detritus from settling? Just throwing stuff out based on no experience.
My bubble algae is always where detritus builds up.

Inside of those skeleton ridges is the only place the foxface can't get to the bubble algae in the DT (I really should release it in the sump for a stint), and the CBB hasn't paid attention to the baby Aips in there either.

I will probably give it a good clean and try to have a closer look at the budding bubbles. See if they are attached loosely or developing some structural rigidity like a skeleton.

 

[paraletho]

If you say each cluster of bubbles is extending tentacles I would say it is forming new heads. I have always thought of them as being a bounce plate coral. If you have any experience with plates they do this from what appears to be a piece of toast. Leave it long enough and usually you end up with babies you can frag

 

[Goaway]

Bubble algae is a monster. You'll at least want to remove all of what you can. Peroxide burn off what you're comfortable with.

You can use putty to place around the healthy flesh, not on it to kind of stop the algae encroaching.