Sturgeons belong to an ancient family of fish that have been around for hundreds of millions of years. Thus, they are highly adapted creatures that have excellent survival skills. However, they still need good nutrition in order to grow big and maintain their health. Owners should remember that sturgeons have different nutritional needs compared to koi and goldfish. Thus, you can just buy one feed for all of them. This will result in nutritional deficiencies for one group and nutrient overdose for the other. Instead, it would be best to buy separate feeds that have been specifically formulated for each. Below are a few things to remember when feeding sturgeons:
High Amount of Animal Protein
Sturgeon pellets need to be high in animal protein. They may be able to digest plant-based protein but not as efficiently as animal protein. Experts suggest giving them products that have ample shrimp meal and fish meal content. It is not enough to looking for sinking pellets. You need to check the label and read the ingredients since not all proteins can provide their needs. If they don’t get the right nutrition, then they will not be able to grow to their full potential. They will be susceptible to disease and die at a higher rate than usual.
Feed in Small Amount Often
Consider the gut anatomy of the sturgeon. It’s quite small so they can’t eat a lot during feeding time. This will not be enough to last them throughout the day. Owners will have to give only a small amount of pellets each time to reduce waste and prevent the growth of bacteria in the waters. They will also have to feed often or at least twice a day. This is much better than giving them one massive meal each day.
Time Feeding with Dusk and Dawn
When scheduling the feeding time, consider the periods when the sturgeons are at their peak of activity. This usually coincides with dawn and dusk so make these your main markers. Also note that these fishes are often uninterested in eating when it’s hot so lunch isn’t the best time for them. Owners should just take care of themselves during the middle of the day.
Feed Sturgeons Last in Mixed Ponds
Sturgeons are not as voracious as other pond fishes. If you feed them first, then the others might swim there quickly and gobble up all of the pellets that aren’t meant for them. This will not be poisonous but it isn’t ideal or sustainable. Feed koi first until they are full. That will make them less likely to eat the sturgeon pellets.
