Please help! Brittle starfish wrapped around Astraea snail?

[ackshee]

My Astraea snail hasn't been moving all day. I just took a closer look and noticed little stripey arms wrapped around the snail! When I introduced my live rock I noticed a very small brittle starfish. I'm guessing that's the culprit.

He's inside the snail's shell, wrapped around him. The snail doesn't seem to be dead but he's retracted into his shell. Is the starfish "attacking" the snail? What's going on? Should I be concerned?

 

[Formulator]

That micro brittle star is probably confused and just likes the crevice provided by the snail. It might be irritating to the snail, but not deadly. I’m sure they will work it out. If not, both creatures are fairly disposable anyways so not much lost. I know that sounds harsh, but snails have short lifespans anyways and tanks typically have an abundance so losing one is just not something I overly concern myself with.

 

[ackshee]

Hah, thanks for the reply. I was actually mistaken.

I thought those were the "arms" of a brittle starfish, due to the stripes. Turns out, those are actually the tentacles of the snail, and they have a striped pattern similar to the brittle star. The snail was just chilling on the glass, but he opened up now and he's fine. I'm just a helicopter parent

 

[Formulator]

Hah, thanks for the reply. I was actually mistaken.

I thought those were the "arms" of a brittle starfish, due to the stripes. Turns out, those are actually the tentacles of the snail, and they have a striped pattern similar to the brittle star. The snail was just chilling on the glass, but he opened up now and he's fine. I'm just a helicopter parent

Haha, nice. Fooled me!