sturgeon

[Polypterus]

Sturgeon do not need a "strong current" they need High dissolved oxygen.. They actually get pretty ticked off in really high flow conditions, especially when very young and when not interested in spawning.

Sturgeon are one of those fish that if you actually have to ask a question about how to keep one you are better off to just forget it..

 

[new2natives]

my LFS had 3 yesterday at 4", and i grabbed one (partly because i could get it cheap, and partly because i know someone who can house it once it outgrows my tanks...)
it was labeled as "california sturgeon", and its a dark gray on top, and some white on his belly ...

this LFS usually does a good job with info on what they are selling, and they had it listed as a 60" max as an adult

he told me water temp lower than usual so i have him at about 70, with plans to take a heater off all together later
and he said water didnt need O2, but i put in an air stone anyhow
filter is running mid-high, but not too much
feeding on bloodworms, although he wasnt too interested yet last night

any other info i need?

 

[new2natives]

also a few other things about his behavior ...
he tends to swim mid level in the tank, which i think is pretty normal, but he swims pretty fast! i know they are constant swimmers, but what ive seen (at least from larger ones) i thought they swam at a slower pace? it could just be because its a new tank and hes young???

also, after i turned the light off for the night, he swam more vertical, with the tip of his nose out of the water? and was even doing backflips (kind of) ??
the filter was running faster at that time, until i read that they dont need that high water flow ...

does this sound like normal behavior??

** i will try and get pics later so i can get someone to identify exactly what he is **

 

[serafino]

I hope you have a 50,000+ gallon tank for when it gets full grown.

 

[yousmellsfishy]

Mt brother-in-law caught a 90 pounder a couple of weeks ago. During the 1.5 hours it took to get it in the boat, it was pulling their boat around. At one point, they stopped fighting th fish to put their life jackets on!!

 

[cichlaguapote]

Sturgeon are one of those fish that if you actually have to ask a question about how to keep one you are better off to just forget it..

Way to be positive... What are the other fish that one shouldn't actually ask a question about how to keep? lol

 

[Moontanman]

i was at my lfs today and i saw a pretty brutal looking fish and the owner said it was a california sturgeon. all the info i can find on sturgeon relates to fishing. anyone keep em? all i know about em is that the owner said they get massive

I don't know why they sell these fish that get so massive, California sturgeon get to be at least six feet and up to ten or more. Even if you manage to dwarf it the fish will still live a short bleak life. Everyone who wants a sturgeon should really demand captive bred shovelnose sturgeon, they are relatively small and a much more agile fish than any other captive bred sturgeon. they are thin and do well in a more crowded tank and seldom get to be over 18" captivity. Several years ago even the fish and game people recomended these sturgeon be sold into the aquarium trade.

 

[Spankbelly]

I hope you have a 50,000+ gallon tank for when it gets full grown.

Why is the only option ever considered to house it forever or not have it at all?
Sturgeon can live 100+ years.
Should he not have it unless his great grandchildren have agreed to adopt it?
It's a fish.
Fish are cool.
Fish are interesting.
But it's just a fish.
We catch them.
We kill them.
We eat them.
Enjoy it for as long as you can.
Care for it well.
Healthy fish are delicious.
They never grow too big to eat.
99% of the "specimens" we nurture are considered food in their native waters.
So is this one.
It is not the last Unicorn.
It is not a Teddy Bear.
Enjoy your fish.
Then chop off it's head, rip out it's guts and toss it on the BBQ.
Feed the left overs to the new fish.
Acunamatata.

 

[Moontanman]

Why is the only option ever considered to house it forever or not have it at all?
Sturgeon can live 100+ years.
Should he not have it unless his great grandchildren have agreed to adopt it?
It's a fish.
Fish are cool.
Fish are interesting.
But it's just a fish.
We catch them.
We kill them.
We eat them.
Enjoy it for as long as you can.
Care for it well.
Healthy fish are delicious.
They never grow too big to eat.
99% of the "specimens" we nurture are considered food in their native waters.
So is this one.
It is not the last Unicorn.
It is not a Teddy Bear.
Enjoy your fish.
Then chop off it's head, rip out it's guts and toss it on the BBQ.
Feed the left overs to the new fish.
Acunamatata.

Exactly why I suggested we insist on a small species of sturgeon instead of the giant ones. shovelnose sturgeon are captive bred as well and don't grow any bigger than a large catfish.

 

[Spankbelly]

Exactly why I suggested we insist on a small species of sturgeon instead of the giant ones. shovelnose sturgeon are captive bred as well and don't grow any bigger than a large catfish.

Oh I defiantly agree about captive bred specimens.
Sturgeon are having a hard enough time with their long life spans and slow reproduction. And our interference.
For them the world looked a bit different a generation ago.
And they are not the only ones. Think of how many viable young of all species are lost in capture, shipping, pet store housing, no sale no life. And after all that most die in the hands of ignorant owners.
What a waste.
But the truth is there is nothing warm and fuzzy about this hobby. As interesting it may be.
We are keeping pretty little things in a pretty little box so we have something to look at during commercials.
I don't feel the need to pretend I am doing anything beneficial.
I find it hypocritical when we talk so easily of culling the unwanted, the ugly. (not that you did) Then act as if we actually care.
Too many babies? Kill a few hundred.
Killed one big fish? Shame!
As if a small life has less value.
As if we are somehow better people for building more comfortable prisons.
Does a Sturgeon belong in his living room? No!
Neither does a Guppy.