Starry sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus)

Scientific name: Acipenser stellatus Pallas, 1771

The Starry sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Acipenseridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 10–20°C (50–68°F).

Starry sturgeon care at a glance

Temperature: 10–20°C (50–68°F)

Biology

At the sea, it occurs in coastal and estuarine zones and forages on the bottom mostly on clayey sand and intensively in the middle and upper water layers. Found mainly near shore over sand and mud, stays at the bottom during the day and rises to the surface to feed at night. Feeds mainly on fish, also mollusks, crustaceans and worms. Spawns in strong-current habitats in main course of large and deep rivers, on stone or gravel bottom. Spawning also takes place on flooded river banks and if gravel bottom is not available, on sand or sandy clay. Juveniles stay in shallow riverine habitats during first summer. One of the three most important species for caviar; also utilized fresh and frozen; eaten pan-fried, broiled and baked. Overfishing at the sea for meat and caviar will soon cause extinction of the natura

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Acipenser stellatus
Family: Acipenseridae (Sturgeons)
Order: Acipenseriformes (Sturgeons and Paddlefishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 220
Common length: 125
Depth range: 10–100 m (33–328 ft)
Environment: Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; anadromous; depth range 10 - 100 m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: Eurasia: Caspian, Black, Azov and Aegean Seas, ascending rivers to spawn. Occurrence in Albania needs confirmation. Introduced in Aral Sea. Artificially propagated. Appendix III of the Bern Convention (protected fauna). International trade restricted (CITES II, since 1.4.98; CMS Appendix II).
Conservation status (IUCN): Critically Endangered (CR) (A2cde)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.06; tm=9; tmax=27; Fec=20,000-360,000)