Never knew about the scutes! Thanks for the factoidIf memory serves, the whites scutes mean they are either Beluga sturgeon or not sturgeon at all but sterlet. Vast difference in size.thebiggerthebetter may know for sure.
they are definitelly not belugas...I am no good at sturgeon ID, tiny experience. So FWIW these do resemble sterlet to me. They do not look like our two belugas. There is no Huso in China in the wild.