Jump to content

Super Size Sterlets


NetFull

Recommended Posts

I bought a pair of diamond back sturgeon in april 2004. I measured em at 18cms when I got them.

 

They spent the first 4 weeks in a plastic liner with straw bales round while I rebuilt the pond. They thrived but one of them took on a curious banana shape , stopped feeding and died.

 

By August 2004 the one remaining fish measured 97cm (bout 3 ft) and here we are in november and thankfully his/her growth rate has slowed down and a year later it measures 110cm.

 

I did come across a site which specialises in sturgeon but the link is on my work pc. it was the most informative site imaginable. points I remember are as follows.

 

1.Feed them well..they need more food for longer periods (colder) than koi.

2. Fish coming to the surface is a sign they are starving. Your average garden centre hasn't a clue about em and they do not feed them right. You must use sinking ground food ( I feed mine on the oase bottom feed) They will only feed ontop when close to death!

3.A fish showing signs of bending and struggling to swim is a lost cause...starved to death!

4. They do not mix well with show koi. They have a very abrasive skin and an agressive bullying feding pattern which will/could cause damage to your prize koi..be warned! In my case I dont care, my fish are for my pleasure and will never win prizes but I love em.

5. Sturgeon eat live small fish!!!! Bet the garden centre never told you that! Were you blaming the missing babies on the cat/heron?...think again. Mine had 9 out of 12 2& 1/2" babies this year...do i mind ..no ..live and let live!

6. They need loads of oxygen..particularly as the water temp falls and the dissolved oxy decreases. Add a fountain or a waterfall.

 

with the huge growth rate my pond started getting cloudy despite a 5000 lt/hr cyclone filter and a 300w uv. The answer was to add an additional 8000 lt /ph pump and external filter (ok so i wanted a waterfall! )

 

To sum up ...sturgeon are a specialised subject...expensive to keep...but in theory easy to maintain. i love mine and will get another to replace the lost one.

 

I will find that link and put it up.

 

Cheers

Dave

Save Our Sharks Member

www.save-our-sharks.org

Link to comment
Share on other sites

HI FASTD

 

the bendy bannana shape sturgeon can suffer from is caused by feeding on the surface which causes them to swallow air bubbles

which in effects, gives them the bends

 

and the dissolved oxygen content of water increases as the water temp drops

 

thats why fish can be seen gasping for air on a hot day

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

How long before we have several sturgen species established in our rivers ?

If they're outgrowing ponds, people set them free - it's a feact of life.

Same goes for the channel cats.

Species caught in 2020: Barbel. European Eel. Bleak. Perch. Pike.

Species caught in 2019: Pike. Bream. Tench. Chub. Common Carp. European Eel. Barbel. Bleak. Dace.

Species caught in 2018: Perch. Bream. Rainbow Trout. Brown Trout. Chub. Roach. Carp. European Eel.

Species caught in 2017: Siamese carp. Striped catfish. Rohu. Mekong catfish. Amazon red tail catfish. Arapaima. Black Minnow Shark. Perch. Chub. Brown Trout. Pike. Bream. Roach. Rudd. Bleak. Common Carp.

Species caught in 2016: Siamese carp. Jullien's golden carp. Striped catfish. Mekong catfish. Amazon red tail catfish. Arapaima. Alligator gar. Rohu. Black Minnow Shark. Roach, Bream, Perch, Ballan Wrasse. Rudd. Common Carp. Pike. Zander. Chub. Bleak.

Species caught in 2015: Brown Trout. Roach. Bream. Terrapin. Eel. Barbel. Pike. Chub.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...

Hi i have just bought two "white finned sterlets"?

 

They had these two and some that looked exactly the same but a bit bigger and were marked up "siberian stergen"

 

I asked the guy what the difference was and he told me the sterlets were just a name for younger sturgen and mine will grow into the siberion sturgen

 

reading the links you have posted maybe the guy told me porkies?

 

thanks

 

will

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We and our partners use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences, repeat visits and to show you personalised advertisements. By clicking “I Agree”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent.