Growth Performance and Feed Conversion Efficiency of Siberian Sturgeon Juveniles (Acipenser baeri) Reared in Concrete Raceways

Authors: GÜLTEN KÖKSAL, FERİT RAD, MEVLÜT KINDIR

Abstract: Culture of sturgeon species is of great economical and ecological importance for those countries whose natural stocks of Acipenseridae spp. have declined or been exterminated. Siberian sturgeon ( Acipenser baeri) is considered one of the most suitable sturgeon species for aquaculture. This study was carried out in order to introduce the Siberian sturgeon to Turkey as a potential candidate for aquaculture and to investigate the growth and feed conversion performance of this species in concrete raceways (flow- through system) used in rainbow trout farming. A growth trial was conducted using 1300, 75 days old Siberian sturgeon juveniles imported from France. The initial mean body weight of juveniles was 9.20 ± 0.34 g and water temperature was 16-22 ^0 C. Juveniles were fed with commercial trout feed throughout the 135-day experiment. The final mean body weight and survival rate were found to be 225.00±8.00 g and 91% respectively. Specific growth rate ranged from 2.90 to 1.30%day ^1 . The mean condition factor at the end of the experiment was measured as 0.350±0.003 and feed conversion ratio was found to be 1.70. The mean population density at the end of the experiment was 16.60 kg/m^ 2 . The final yield per liter of water flow was found to be 0.90 kg/l/min. The results obtained indicate that the growth performance of the Siberian sturgeon seems to be similar and even better than that of commercially cultured species in Turkey e.g. rainbow trout, sea bass and sea bream and that the Siberian sturgeon could be easily reared in concrete raceways used in rainbow trout farming.

Keywords: Acipenser baeri, Growth performance, Feed conversion ratio.

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