Helping starfish heal

[atjohns84]

I bought a Red/Orange Linkia star from an LFS Wednesday. It is about 1.5 inches around so it cant be very old. When I got it it was already missing most of one ray or leg. The guy at the store told me they regenerate. What can I do to help it? Some people have said give it a clean cut to prevent infection. Is that right? Did I get hosed?

I acclimated it for about 2 hrs and it has been moving around the tank glass and appears to be eating some of the algae off of the glass.

Are there any meds or vitamins I can put in to help him heal faster? What about the cut? There is a little bit of black stuff around the wound. Is that good or bad?

Please let me know.

 

[melosu58]

Just make sure of good water quality. I would probably do a water change to help out. The leg will grow back.

 

[demodiki]

Most of these starfish don't do very well. If the starfish was missing a leg already I would say that he may have been on the decline.

Two hours for acclimation is much too short IMO for a linkia (or any invert really).

I agree...good water quality is your friend and just watch him.