Siberian Sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) They are primarily benthic feeders, that is to say that they collect organisms living on or in sea or lake bottoms. Using their projecting wedgeshaped snout they stir up the silt on the soft bottom, and use the barbels to detect shells, crustaceans and the small fish, on which they feed. As they have no teeth, they cannot seize their prey, although larger specimens can swallow very large prey items, including whole salmon and even baby seals. The Siberian is the most common species, although the Beluga is probably the most heard about, due to the fact that it is known for it's roe, Beluga caviare. Siberian are becoming more well known however as they are becoming popular in the hobbyist market as a pond fish. Sturgeon are among the largest fish on the planet, and some species are reported to grow to over 5.5m, however the Siberian although initially quick to grow, remains at a more realistic size for a pond and retail more cheaply than other species. However, even give this fact, anyone taking on a sturgeon should first read up on their requirements. In the wild Siberian sturgeon can grow to a recorded maximum length of 2m (6'6") and weigh in at around 200kg (440lb). However in garden ponds a big fish may be 1.5 m (4'6") and 10kg (22lb). They will soon outgrow a small pond and should not be taken on unless you have, or are prepared to build a pond of 2,500 gallons (1100 litres) if you wish to keep the fish to maturity. Due to their earthy browny grey colouring you may find it difficult to see the Siberian as they blend in well with their surroundings, the only difference being their paler belly that can be seen when they are turning in the water. There is a silver-grey colour variation, although this is quite rare and not often seen, which is reflected in their price. However, with patience they can become quite tame and can be hand fed when used to their owners and surroundings. They also enjoy their snouts being tickled which will further endear them to you. Young Siberian can grow as much as 20-25cm (8-10") over a year given the optimum nutritional food fed at the right quantities. The correct water temperature and correct size of pond will also contribute to this growth rate, which does slow down as the sturgeon gets older. Most sturgeon prefer cooler water temperatures (10-20 degrees C), like those of their natural habitats of subtropical and subarctic regions. They also like well aerated water that is not overplanted as they cannot swim in reverse and may get entangled in thick planting or algae blankets. They are graceful swimmers that can be seen best at dawn and dusk when they tend to be at the surface more.
Sturgeon are cartilaginous, that is to say their skeleton is made of catiladge rather than bone. They do not have scales but are covered in bony plates known as scutes. They have a toothless mouth which is situated slightly back from the nose and is preceded by four barbels, which are tactile organs that are dragged along the bottom of riverbeds. They house the taste buds of such fish and are used to search for food in murky water. They have graceful, elongated bodies, elongated and flattened upper tail lobes and a flattened snout or rostra (from the Latin for beak). Being rather shark-like in appearance, with their fixed pectoral fins, pointed snouts and long sweeping tails, children and adults alike find them fascinating to watch.
