Growth and Survival Rate of Russian Sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) Larvae from Fertilized Eggs to Artificial Feeding

Abstract

Fertilized eggs of Russian Sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) were brought from the Krasnodar Research Institute of Fisheries in 12.01.2001 to the University of Istanbul, Fisheries Faculty, Sapanca inland Water Fish Culture Research and Applied Station oil January 13 th. 5 kg fertilized eggs were put oil 13 plates (size of each plate; 65 x 40 x 15 cm). Fertilized eggs were incubated in waving system (model designed according to modified Yushenko apparatus) at 14-15 degrees C by means of water paddles continuously in action. The mass hatching was completed in 7 clays after fertilization. The larvae were taken from the moving plates and were put to the fibreglass rectangular tanks (2.9 x 0.2 x 0.4 m size). From 8 to 11 days post-hatching, the larvae were fed by Artemia nouplius five times a day. At this period, the gill filaments were clearly red and covered by the operculum, and the anal fins were shaped. Between 12-16 days post-hatching larvae had been fed with both Artemia and tubifex. Between 17-18 clays post-hatching, the larvae fed with artemia, tubifex and artificial diets. The tubifex were minced before they were given to the larvae. 19-32 days post-hatching, tub fix and artificial diets were used. At the end of the feeding trial, sturgeon larvae had reached to 12 cm of length and 5 25 g of weight. During the 33-75 days, the larvae were fled by only commercial trout diets five times a day (containing 52% protein, 14% lipid and 13% ash; BioAqua, Turkey). The artificial granule feed size increased from 80 mu m to 1200 mu m parallel to the growth of the larvae size. At the end of 75 days, the survival rate of Russian sturgeon was 27%. During the first 7 days of incubation, mortality rate of fertilized eggs was approximately 69% of the total number.