sturgeons

Sturgeons have become popular pond fish in recent years: an exotic appearance, quick to tame, and hardly susceptible to diseases or parasites. However, they are not 'plug and play' fish like a goldfish - sturgeons have specific demands on their pond. Please read this before purchasing a sturgeon.

What a sturgeon pond must meet

• The pond water must be consistently cool, flowing, clear, and oxygen-rich
• Sturgeons must be fed several times a day with special sturgeon food
• A spacious pond is a requirement: sturgeons only swim forward and therefore need a lot of free swimming space to grow
• Count on approximately 10x the body length of the fish for pond length. A 40 cm sturgeon therefore needs a minimum of 4 meters of pond length
• Keep edges and bottom free of plants, decorations, and obstacles, so that the sturgeon cannot get stuck or injured. Thread algae can even suffocate sturgeons

Water quality

Sturgeons need clean, flowing, clear, and oxygen-rich water, preferably at a low temperature. Therefore, choose a shady location for the pond. If your pond is mainly in full sun, a sturgeon is not a good choice - the water simply gets too warm.

Feeding

Sturgeons need special sinking food with a high content of proteins and vitamins, such as Colombo Sturgeon, Sera Sterlet Chips (larger sturgeons) or Sera Sterlet Pellets (smaller sturgeons).

Do you also keep other pond inhabitants besides sturgeons? Pay extra attention: a sturgeon is not agile, swims slowly, and has poor eyesight. Faster fish often eat the food from the bottom before the sturgeon gets there. So regularly check whether your sturgeon is getting enough.

Sturgeons are also quickly tamed - think of feeding from an open hand, or always feeding the sturgeon in the same spot while the other fish eat elsewhere.

Never feed too much at once: better three small portions a day than one large feeding. Sturgeons have a short digestive system, and too much food at once can cause constipation.

Sturgeons from our assortment

Siberian Sturgeon (Acipenser Baerii)

The Siberian Sturgeon is a robust bottom fish, originally from the Siberian rivers. A good choice for those who want to keep a sturgeon for the first time, provided the pond is large enough.

Sterlet Sturgeon (Acipenser Ruthenus)

The Sterlet Sturgeon remains more compact than the Siberian Sturgeon and is originally found in the Danube and Volga. There is also a white, red-eyed albino variant of this species - the 'Albino Sterlet' - which, due to its color, stands out well against dark pond liner.

Are you in doubt?

Always read up thoroughly before purchasing a sturgeon and make sure your pond meets the above requirements. Are you unsure whether your pond is suitable? Feel free to visit our store in Heinkenszand, we are happy to help you.