Is my bubble really dead?

[pohtr]

I am pretty certain that I have finally killed my bubble coral. He had been very wilted for weeks (other threads) and I decided out of desperation to give him a freshwater iodine dip. As soon as I dipped him and moved him around a little he started to slough off & disintegrate. It was really awful. I think he was already dead before I dipped him. So depressing.
The only thing is that he didn't & doesn't smell bad. Also, there are still little bits of him left. Is it possible that if one or two tiny little bubble parts survived that he could live?
I guess after all he maybe had some sort of fungus or parasite and maybe the dip killed that.
I did use regular tank water in a separate container to rinse him many times in and even so there were lots of white pieces that came off of him into the display tank. I am planning on monitoring the ammonia, etc. but everyone else seems fine. Even the striped muchroom is improving.
It's amazing how attached you can get to a "stupid" fish or coral! I want to remember him in his glory!

 

[team2jndd]

neither of those pictures show a dead coral. If he didn't smell but the flesh is disappearing than I would deffinately suspect a bacteria or parasite. The terrible smell comes from the rotting flesh so if there is no rotting flesh the coral isn't dead. You sound like you know what you are doing. I would leave it alone for now and let it make a comeback. Best of luck.

 

[pohtr]

Those were pictures of him in his glory, he sure as heck doesn't look like that now! I just can't bring myself to take a picture of him how he is now. It's too awful. He's just a skeletan with a few pieces of flesh in between the finlike/bladelike bones or whatever they're called. I am constantly checking with my magnifying glass in case I spot a tiny bubble. Would it/could it start back with a teeny little bubble or two?

 

[team2jndd]

It is hard to say. Can you get a pic?

 

[razor vampire]

If it doesn't smell then I don't it's dead. Like theam2jndd I suspect maybe bacteria.
Wish you the best!

 

[reefforbrains]

I use my nose more than most others I speak with on the board.
I completly agree they can pull back tiny and make miracle comebacks. If it doesnt smell then theres hope.
I dont like the disintigration part of your description but who knows. Keep tryin and please do take pics.

 

[pohtr]

Here is a pic, as close as I can get it. What's left of him still doesn't smell but little white particles still float off when he's moved.
so sad.

 

[pohtr]

I think this is a better pic, used the tripod this time

 

[brandon7491]

i think so im sry =-[ if you can get a full coral shot that would be best

 

[pohtr]

There's nothing left to get a full shot of. What are the little roundish pieces in between the finlike bones? One of them looks like a teeny tiny cauliflower. How much of a bubble coral do you have to have to regenerate? If they are not bubble coral parts then what else? They don't look or smell rotten.
Any ideas?

 

[smoothie]

Put him in low flow low light and see what happens. Was given one for 5 bucks from my lfs and he did great after a few weeks. Wish we could all be there to help.

 

[pohtr]

Oh how I wish you could all come over and fix my bubble!! And all the other problems with the tank. What a great idea. Hmmm. A traveling forum!
Well, meanwhile, most of those tissue pieces have dissappeared but I keep watching and hoping. The tank is just not the same without Bubbs, he was the centerpiece. sigh.