Sturgeon feed

🧠 How Sturgeon Foods Work

Unlike koi, whose foods are often more versatile, sturgeon foods must reflect their biological needs as bottom feeders:

1️⃣ Energy function

sturgeons need an energy reserve to actively search for food at the bottom

fats and carbohydrates provide quick and long-lasting energy

2️⃣ Building functions

animal proteins and amino acids build muscle

minerals support bone and thyroid formation

3️⃣ Regulatory function

vitamins and trace elements regulate metabolism, immunity and regeneration

🧬 Sturgeon feeding behavior

Sturgeons have unique feeding behavior:

✔️ bottom feeders, hunt for food at the bottom

✔️ prefer food with a higher proportion of animal components than plant components

often "dig" the bottom, which can increase sludge and water pollution
✔️ they are more sensitive to the composition of the feed than common ornamental fish

🏠 Sturgeon feed requirements
🍽️ Digestibility

high biological value of proteins

low proportion of difficult to digest plant materials

⚖️ Energy balance

fats and carbohydrates must be in a balanced ratio

at high water temperatures, less fat is needed

🌡️ Influence of water temperature

Sturgeon digestion is sensitive to water temperature:

at temperatures <15°C, digestion slows down

20°C they are most active

➡️ This means that the feed must also be adapted to seasonal changes.

🩺 The impact of feed on the health of sturgeons
✅ Positive impact

✔️ proper growth of the skeleton and muscles
✔️ strong immunity
✔️ healthy pigmentation
✔️ higher resistance to diseases
✔️ stable digestion

⚠️ Negative impact (with bad feeds)

❌ liver problems
❌ digestive problems
❌ reduced immunity
❌ increased waste in the water → deteriorated water quality
❌ rapid obesity with excessive carbohydrates

🦠 Common health problems from inappropriate feeding
🚩 1) Dysbiosis of the digestive tract

Cause: poor-quality feed with an excess of plant ingredients
➡️ Solution: feeds with a higher proportion of animal proteins

🚩 2) Obesity and fatty degeneration

Cause: high fat and carbohydrate content
➡️ Solution: feeds with controlled energy content

🚩 3) Muscle and skeletal problems

Cause: lack of minerals and vitamins
➡️ Solution: additional micronutrients

🍱 Types of sturgeon feed
🥇 1) Special pellets for sturgeon

This is the basic feed:

produced in different granule sizes

high proportion of animal protein

often added probiotics and enzymes for better digestion

Advantages
✔️ high digestibility
✔️ easy application
✔️ different sizes for different sizes of fish

Disadvantages
❌ not always ideal for seasonal food changes
❌ sometimes needs supplements

🥈 2) Deep / sinking pellets

More natural for sturgeon:

✔️ sink to the bottom
✔️ ideal for their natural behavior
✔️ less affect the surface

🥉 3) Carnivorous and animal feeds

insect larvae, shrimp, fish meal

very high digestible

Advantages
✔️ ideal for growth and regeneration
✔️ natural food

Disadvantages
❌ higher price
❌ can cause odor when used in water

🟦 4) Supplementary feeds

vitamin powders

probiotics

omega fatty acids

They serve as nutritional supplements, not the basis.

📊 Advantages and disadvantages of different feeds
Type of feed Advantages Disadvantages
Special pellets balanced, simple not always perfect for plants
Sinking pellets natural behavior, bottom can go unnoticed in weak current
Carnivorous feeds highly digestible, growth price, odor
Additional immune support, digestion inadequate if used excessively

🧠 How to choose the right feed for your sturgeons
🧮 1) By fish size

small individuals → small pellets

adult individuals → larger pellets

🧮 2) By season

Spring / summer → higher protein content

Autumn → balanced feed

Winter (<12°C) → pay very economical, only the minimum

🧮 3) By feeding goal

✔️ growth → higher protein feeds
✔️ body definition → stable nutrient ratio
✔️ color and immunity → additional ingredients

🧮 4) By quality

Good food:

🔹 has a balanced composition
🔹 the first ingredients are animal proteins
🔹 contains vitamins, minerals, lipids

🍽️ How and when to feed sturgeons
📆 Seasonal recommendations

Spring (10–18°C): smaller portions, active

Summer (18–28°C): larger portions, more often

Autumn (12–18°C): reduce feeding

Winter (<12°C): minimize feeding

🍽️ Feeding principles

✔️ only dose as much as they eat in 30–60s
✔️ divide into several portions a day
✔️ monitor the behavior of the fish (they tend to overfeed)
✔️ do not use cheap unnecessary fillers

🧠 The impact of food on water quality

Bad food or overfeeding →
📉 increased ammonia
📉 increased nitrites
📈 increased waste
📈 algae turbidity

➡️ solution: quality food + filtration system + regular water testing

🧠 The most common mistakes when feeding sturgeon

❌ excessive amount of plant ingredients
❌ incorrect seasonal foods
❌ overfeeding
❌ choosing a "universal" cheap food
❌ ignoring fish behavior

📌 Summary

Sturgeon food is more than just food — it is the basis for the health, vitality and longevity of your fish.