Experience Sharing on Large-Scale Sturgeon Farming in Ponds

In November 2000, the author used 80 mu of ponds in Meizhou, Guangdong, to farm hybrid sturgeon (Siberian sturgeon × Kaluga sturgeon) with stream water. After 180 days of rearing, the average yield reached 831.25 kg per mu, achieving relatively good economic returns. The key points of the farming process in Pond No. 1 are summarized as follows: 

1. Pond and water quality The pond size is 4 mu, with a sandy bottom. Each pond is equipped with independent inlet and outlet ports and a fixed feeding point. The bottom of the feeding point is made of cement concrete, smoothed, with an area of 6-8 sq m being appropriate, and a shade net is installed above. Each pond is equipped with 2 units of 0.9 kW (EORO-2 type) Italian-style aerators. The water source is gravity-fed mountain stream water, with a year-round water temperature of 18-24°C, abundant water volume, and fresh, pollution-free water quality. 

2. Stocking Before stocking, each pond was thoroughly disinfected with lime. After test stocking confirmed safety, sturgeon fingerlings were released at a stocking density of 700 fish/mu. On the day of stocking, the fish bodies were soaked in a 30% salt solution for disinfection. 

3. Management The sturgeon individuals placed in the ponds had already grown to over 25 cm and could consume sinking compound feed (crude protein content ≥35%). Before feeding, the floor of the feeding platform was scrubbed clean with a brush. During the feeding process, 0.5% allicin and oxytetracycline were regularly added to the feed (50 kg of bait mixed with 100 g). The feeding rates were: for fish body weight 50-200 g, feeding rate 10%-4%; for fish body weight 200-1000 g, feeding rate 4%-2.5%; for over 1000 g, 2.5%-1%, with feed being consumed within 20 minutes being ideal. 

Sturgeon have relatively high dissolved oxygen requirements and poor adaptability to rapid temperature differences. In daily management, it is necessary to ensure that dissolved oxygen in the water is above 5 ppm and that water quality is clear. During storms, when temperature differences change abruptly and air pressure drops, more frequent pond patrols and observations should be conducted, and effective preventive measures should be taken.

In the process of pond farming of sturgeon, every 30 days, a net should be used to catch the fish once, and the weak and thin sturgeon should be selected out and cultivated in dedicated ponds with dedicated feed for recovery and strengthening, then returned to the ponds for farming. This is an important technical measure to ensure high yields in pond sturgeon farming. After dedicated pond cultivation, weak and thin sturgeon can achieve 70% acceptance of starter feed and recover their condition.