Can sturgeon be kept in an aquarium? More recently, this species of fish at home was extremely rare. Nowadays, many people are acquiring representatives of the sturgeon family for breeding in aquariums. Keeping such fish in domestic water bodies is a very difficult task. Only an experienced aquarist can do this. In the article we will consider in detail the features of sturgeon breeding and care for them.
What types of sturgeons are suitable for an aquarium
Sturgeons are the collective name of a family of fish, which includes a huge number of species. They are distinguished by large sizes (up to 4–6 m), a long pointed stigma and the presence of bone spines on the body. Sturgeons are unique relic fish that survived to this day. The first representatives of this family appeared on Earth many tens of millions of years ago.
There is an erroneous opinion that the content of sturgeons in the aquarium is not particularly difficult. Many breeders believe that this oldest fish in the process of evolution was able to adapt to any, even the most adverse conditions. But in fact, sturgeon is a very whimsical fish. Representatives of this family are extremely sensitive to the composition and quality of water. In order for the fish to live long, it is necessary to provide it with the right conditions and care.
Not all types of sturgeon are able to live in aquariums. For keeping at home only small representatives of this group of fish are suitable. These include:
These fish are more unpretentious than most sturgeons, and can be kept in aquariums. Bester is a hybrid of sterlet and beluga.
As for large sturgeon fish, they do not adapt well to home conditions. There is a negative experience of keeping Russian and Amur oster in aquariums. Even under good conditions, the fish died very quickly. Therefore, large sturgeons can be kept only in special fish farms, but not at home.
Fish description
In the wild, the size of the sterlet and bester can reach 120–150 cm. Their body weight reaches 25–30 kg.
In an aquarium, sturgeon cannot grow to the same dimensions as in a natural habitat. In captivity, the size of the fish is usually not more than 20–40 cm. The fry grow very slowly.
The body of sturgeons has a fusiform shape. The stigma is elongated, ending with a thin and raised proboscis. On the body there are 5 rows of bone scutes. This is a distinctive feature of all types of sturgeons. In the wild, these fish are protected from enemies with sharp spikes.
Sturgeons have a rather modest and discreet color of the scales. Their body color varies from dark brown to light gray. Most often, individuals with a brownish body, a yellow abdomen and gray fins are found. The white color of the sterlet is considered a rarity.
Habitat
Before you get sturgeon in your home aquarium, you need to study their living conditions in the wild. This will help create the most comfortable living environment for fish.
In nature, sturgeons are found in the fresh waters of the European part of Russia and Siberia. Occasionally they swim in the salty seas. In winter, rivers are covered with ice, and sturgeons hibernate. They are at the bottom in special shelters (wintering pits). Special mucus on the body helps them survive the cold, which serves as protection against frost.
As soon as the rivers are freed from ice, a spawning period begins for sturgeons. They float down the river to lay eggs.
Sturgeons are predators. They feed on crustaceans, mollusks, waterworms and insect larvae. Sterlet love to eat eggs of other fish.
Household Rules
Growing sturgeon in an aquarium is a rather complicated matter. This fish is finicky and sensitive to various adverse effects. Quite often, sturgeons die due to the slightest negligence in care and maintenance. In order for fish to live long, it is necessary to create the following conditions for them:
- Space in the aquarium. For one medium-sized specimen, a reservoir of at least 250 liters is required. At 10 cm of the body length of the fish should be about 100 l of the volume of the aquarium.
- Vast bottom. The body of the sturgeon constantly produces protective mucus. To wash it off, the fish have to move a lot in the water. Sterlet and bester love to swim near the bottom, so the ground area should be large enough.
- Optimum temperature conditions. In nature, sturgeons live in cool rivers. Therefore, the temperature of the water in the aquarium should be from +15 to +22 degrees. These fish tolerate even small temperature fluctuations very poorly. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase a special thermostat for the aquarium. The fish tank should not be placed under an open window in winter and in direct sunlight in summer.
- Good water quality. Sturgeon is very sensitive to the composition of the water in the aquarium, so you need to monitor the quality characteristics of the fluid. Acidity (pH) from 6.5 to 8.5 units and hardness from 6 to 25 dGH are allowed. The content of nitrate impurities must be minimized.
- Powerful filtration and aeration of water. It is necessary to purchase equipment for an aquarium with a capacity of at least 6 volumes per hour. It is very useful to keep sturgeons in running water. Such an environment is as close as possible to their natural habitat.
- Lack of plants. Any algae is a great danger to sturgeons. These fish can become entangled with their thorns in plants and die. Most safe for sturgeons is the complete absence of vegetation.
- Safe aquarium decor. Snags and stones are allowed in the tank. However, grottoes and caves with labyrinths should not be equipped in the aquarium. Sturgeons very often cannot get out of such shelters, which can cause their death. It should be remembered that the central nervous system of these fish is primitive. They are very poorly oriented in the labyrinths.
As soil, you can use sand or gravel. Large stones are not recommended at the bottom. Sturgeons have considerable physical strength. They can throw a stone from the ground with their long proboscis and break the glass of the aquarium.
Food
How to feed sturgeons in an aquarium? These fish are predators and need live food. They can be given the following types of food:
- tubule
- bloodworm;
- pieces of fish (capelin, hake);
- earthworms;
- finely chopped beef.
Sturgeon food should be chopped and soft. These fish have no teeth, and the oral apparatus is very small. Pieces of food should settle to the bottom, as the sturgeon stigma is adapted to pick up food from the ground.
You can also give ready mixed feeds to sturgeons. For example, the Tetra Pond Sterlet Stick is specifically designed to power sterlet and bester. It is a granule settling on the bottom. But even when feeding fish with ready-made food, you need to regularly diversify their diet with live food.
Compatibility
The sturgeon in the aquarium is far from compatible with all types of fish. It is impossible to keep smaller individuals together with it. Sterlet and bester can use small fish as food. The following aquarium inhabitants are suitable as neighbors for sturgeons:
- chain catfish;
- armored pike;
- Arovan.
It is not recommended to keep sturgeons with too large species of fish. Such neighbors can take food from sterlet and bester.
Is it possible to reproduce at home
Breeding sturgeon in an aquarium is not possible. These fish practically do not breed in captivity. Sterlet and bester cannot spawn in a confined space. Their breeding is possible only in artificial ponds.
It is best to buy sturgeon fry in fisheries. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to the absence of external defects in the fish. A healthy fry should not have a curvature of the spine, underdeveloped gills and a hollow abdomen.
Life span
Sturgeon in an aquarium can live on average about 3 years. In the wild, the lifespan of these fish is much longer - about 15–20 years. Often aquarists are faced with a situation where sturgeons die after a year of living at home. This is most often associated with violations of the rules of maintenance and care.
It can be concluded that staying in a closed tank significantly reduces the life of the fish. Sturgeons are best grown and bred in artificial ponds. Such a pond can be arranged on the garden plot. These conditions are more natural for sturgeons and do not affect life expectancy.