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How do you take care of a sturgeon fish?

Author

Matthew Martinez

Updated on February 26, 2026

How do you take care of a sturgeon fish?

Sturgeons like
  1. Sturgeons need proper food (not wheat germ or Cereal based foods).
  2. Well-oxygenated water.
  3. Filtered water (unless in a lake)
  4. A large pond minimum 1000 gallons (5000 litres) for Sterlets.
  5. For other species, a minimum 2000 gallons.
  6. A back up pump in case of main pump failure.

Beside this, are sturgeon fish easy to keep?

Sturgeon Care

Most problems are either food or oxygen related, get those two simple things right and sturgeons are very easy to keep.

Subsequently, question is, can you keep sturgeon as a pet? As big river fishes, sturgeons are ill-suited for life in all but large and specially constructed aquaria. Sand- or bare-bottomed tanks are recommended since gravel can injure a sturgeon's sensitive barbels and mouth.

Keeping this in consideration, how do you look after sturgeon?

Sturgeon Like:

  1. Sturgeons need proper food (not wheat germ or Cereal based foods).
  2. Well-oxygenated water.
  3. Filtered water (unless in a lake)
  4. A large pond minimum 1000 gallons (5000 litres) for Sterlets.
  5. For other species, a minimum 2000 gallons.
  6. A back up pump in case of main pump failure.

Can sturgeon live in a tank?

To keep a sturgeon in an aquarium, the length and width of the tank will need to be sufficient to allow it to swim freely and turn around easily. This means a tank with a length at least six times the length of the fish, and a width at least twice the length of the fish.

How long do sturgeon get?

Atlantic sturgeon can grow to approximately 16 feet long and can weigh up to 800 pounds. They are bluish-black or olive brown dorsally (on their back) with paler sides and a white belly. They have five major rows of dermal "scutes,†or thorny plates along the length of their body.

How often should I feed my sturgeon?

Sturgeons up to 8 in have to be fed every 3 hours, otherwise they will die. As a rule of thumb you can apply that a sturgeon needs a pond size of at least 10 times its length.

Do sturgeons feed winter?

Feeding your Sturgeon in Winter

Like most fish, sturgeons reduce their food intake in colder weather as they don't use as much energy (cold blooded; no built in heater) so feeding can be reduced in quantity and frequency, but they still require food if they are active (as do all fish).

Can I keep sturgeon with koi?

Can they be kept with other fish? They can and are very well behaved, but they are sensitive to some medications so if you keep them with prized koi and need to treat the koi, you may need to remove the sturgeon for the duration.

Do sturgeons bite?

Unlike sharks - who are natural predators and attack their prey, sturgeon aren't aggressive. Strikes are simply accidental collisions. The nation is fixated on sharks - especially great whites. Discovery Channel's Shark Week is battling National Geographic's SharkFest for the biggest bite of the TV audience.

What can you feed sturgeon?

Diet: The best diet for diamond sturgeon will contain a high percentage of animal-based protein (like fishmeal); the minimum protein content should be 40%. A good quality sturgeon fish food, like All Pond Solutions pellets, will also have a mix of carbohydrates, fats, mineral salts and vitamins.

Is sturgeon nocturnal?

Early migrant Atlantic sturgeon were nocturnal, while late migrants were diurnal, and shortnose sturgeon were diurnal. Social behavior may be more important in the life history of wild sturgeons than is generally recognized.

Why is my sturgeon floating?

With sturgeons this is usually a sign of looking for food, especially with small ones. How big is it and what species? On fish farms they use automatic feeders that constantly trickle the food in and the small fish all swim like that and even tail-stand which may look cute but they should grow out of it.

Is a sturgeon a shark?

No, they're not sharks, but similar to them, sturgeons have a cartilaginous skeleton and an ancient appearance. Some Aquarium guests are surprised to see a sturgeon in salt water, associating them more with freshwater sport fishing.

How quickly do sturgeon grow?

Due to its growth rate it must be fed good quality sturgeon food as it suffers very quickly from malnutrition. The growth rate is dependent on food quality and temperature but when young they can grow very fast, putting on 10 - 12 inches (25 - 30 cm) or more in length over a year, given the right food and environment.

What is the biggest sturgeon ever caught?

The largest Nechako white sturgeon on record was caught and released on the Nechako River near Vanderhoof, B.C., earlier this month. Weighing in at 152 kilograms (336 pounds) and measuring 2.9 metres (9.6 feet), the huge fish was caught by staff at the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre (NWSCC).

What is the smallest sturgeon?

The shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) is the smallest species of freshwater sturgeon native to North America.

Are sturgeons big?

Sturgeon can live to be more than 100 years old! The white sturgeon can grow 20 feet long and weigh more than 1,500 pounds!

How big can a beluga sturgeon get?

Reaching lengths of 24 feet (7 m) and weights of more than 3500 pounds (1500 kilos), the beluga sturgeon is the largest sturgeon and one of the largest bony fishes in the world.

How many types of sturgeon are there?

Beluga
Greater sturgeons
Kaluga
Bester

Can you keep sturgeon in Canada?

White sturgeon, popular with anglers in the Fraser, Kootenay and Columbia rivers, has been protected since 1993 with catch-and-release only allowed. The shortnose sturgeon is classified as vulnerable by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and is an endangered species in the US.

How big are Atlantic sturgeons?

The Atlantic sturgeon is a large fish that can reach a length of 14 feet (4.3 meters), a weight of over 800 pounds (363 kilograms), and possess strength to leap nine feet (2.7 meters) into the air.

Can you catch sturgeon in the UK?

The Common or European Sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) are rarely seen in British waters, however a re-introduction programme in France has increased the potential for sightings and bycatch, with a number of catches recently reported in the English Channel.

Do sturgeons live on bottom?

Most sturgeons are anadromous bottom-feeders, which migrate upstream to spawn, but spend most of their lives feeding in river deltas and estuaries.