Is this Bubble coral reproducing?

[Newts]

For several months this bubble has had this part of the polyps sagging down from the rest of the polyps. All the polyps look healthy. Is this coral trying to seperate into another coral? Here's some pics what do you think, I tried to get a good close up pic.

 

[Len]

Yes, it definitely looks like it. The bud will form a new calcaerous base; Just make sure it's not lost or blown around. Congrats Very nice pics.

 

[Newts]

Thanks Len, like I said it's been like this for months. I was curious how long something like this might take. Has anyone witnessed one of these do this before? The flesh that is sagging seems to be coming from the middle part of the polyps. I wonder when it will start to grow a skeleton and attach to rock. About a year and a half ago this coral started to do real bad and I thought I might lose it. Than it recovered and started to do this.

 

[Len]

I've never seen a bubble coral do this, but have heard of it. I have, however, seen many Hammer and Elegance corals do this, and so am not surprised that your bubble is doing so now. And what you described fits the condition to a tee; this type of asexual reproduction usually occurs after trauma to the coral/skeletal structure. Fungia corals are particularly well documented to bud after being damaged.

It takes a while (months) for the detached polyp to form a new skeleton, so shelter it well. Again, this is very cool and I always find coral reproduction interesting.