Hitchhiking coral on a snail

[flakbait]

Found this coral growing on the back of a snail’s shell. Store had it labeled as “ninja star astrea snail”. Quick search resulted in nothing about them being captive bred, and since they’re native to the Atlantic. This leads me to believe the coral is some sort of Atlantic sps. Can anyone chime in?

P.S: Polyp extension can be provided when the coral adjusts to my tank.

 

[flakbait]

Here’s what they look like under flash with the lights off

 

[flakbait]

Here’s under blues

 

[flakbait]

tbh it kind of looks like stylocoeniella, kinda a bummer lol

 

[flakbait]

tbh it kind of looks like stylocoeniella, kinda a bummer lol

cant seem to see the protrusions common in stylocoeniella

 

[reeferforever]

wow this is supe interesting

 

[flakbait]

Dont want to be hasty, but I think it might be a blushing star coral

 

[reeferforever]

Dont want to be hasty, but I think it might be a blushing star coral

do you think you can remove it?

 

[flakbait]

do you think you can remove it?

Probably could, but I dont want to risk damaging either animal atm. I'll wait for them to settle down first. Its at the very top of the snail shell but its fairly encrusted.

 

[flakbait]

Just came across an old thread that had a similar situation to me. Definitely looks like a type of porites now.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hitch-hiker-sps-identity.857226/

 

[steveschuerger]

As long as the coral is ok with it I’d leave it alone with its mobile home, but if it starts looking unhappy I’d say this about the snail when removing it—

 

[thamnasteroid]

Looks like some sort of Porites I think.

Dont want to be hasty, but I think it might be a blushing star coral

not Stephanocoenia; those are plocoid.

 

[flakbait]

Looks like some sort of Porites I think.

not Stephanocoenia; those are plocoid.

I'm guessing it'll be hard to identify what specific porites it is without seeing the growth form?

 

[thamnasteroid]

I'm guessing it'll be hard to identify what specific porites it is without seeing the growth form?

Yeah. It's likely one of the West-Atlantic/Caribbean Porites, seeing that it's on an Astraea (probably actually Lithopoma) snail.