How to grow a beluga at home?

Breeding sturgeon, if you are ready to create the necessary conditions for this royal fish, will give you the opportunity to eat homemade, which means high-quality and environmentally friendly food, as well as receive a regular income. The caviar and meat of this fish have been considered a delicacy for more than one century and are always in high demand. Of course, to create such a business, certain investments and efforts will be required. But this type of activity is distinguished by good profitability, and the money spent will pay off relatively quickly.

Home breeding of Siberian and Russian sturgeons as a business

Sturgeon is a freshwater fish, one of the most ancient representatives of its kind. It has an elongated body and an elongated head, pointed towards the mouth. Distinguish between Russian and Siberian sturgeons. There are some differences when growing them:

1. Siberian sturgeon is distinguished by good survival rate, which was noted at all stages of the biological cycle. This helps to minimize the risks of artificial breeding.
2. During wintering, the Siberian sturgeon, unlike the Russian, does not come to the surface of the water to obtain oxygen, so that the fish can be kept in cages completely submerged under the ice. The waste does not exceed 10.4%. Also, during this period, there is less loss of live weight than that of the Russian species.
3. Siberian sturgeons have a slightly lower growth rate than Russians - from 238 g (two-year-old individuals) to 989 g (eight-year-old fish).

Sturgeon breeding is not easy but profitable.

The sturgeon family also includes sterlet, beluga and stellate sturgeon. All these fish have the ability to adapt to any habitat, even with frequent changes. Thanks to this quality, sturgeons are successfully bred at home.

Photo gallery: fish of the sturgeon family

Russian sturgeon

Siberian sturgeon

Sterlet

Beluga

Stellate sturgeon

Growing fish allows you to make good profits. The fishing is gaining popularity due to the following factors:

1. Sturgeon meat and caviar are in demand. And the level of competition in this area is relatively low today.
2. The business does not require large start-up investments.
3. You do not need to have special knowledge either. Today there is enough literature containing the necessary information. The necessary instructions can also be found on the Internet.
4. Breeding sturgeon does not take much time. Taking care of the fish takes 3-4 hours a day. The only exception is the sorting period. On these days, you will have to devote 15-16 hours to work.
5. The business begins to pay off within 7-9 months.

Video: organizing a sturgeon farm

To create a farm, you need to purchase and install specialized equipment. Something can be done by hand. And also choose and prepare the room properly.

Equipment

To breed sturgeon in a home farm, you will need:

1. Automatic feeders and feeders.

You can also feed the fish manually, but these devices greatly facilitate the procedure and save a significant amount of time.

2. Pumps for pumping water.

In the selection process, pay attention to models that can work effectively, while not being at the power limit. Otherwise, the pumps will not last long.

3. Oxygen generators (aerators) to provide fish with oxygen.
4. Pipes for creating a closed water supply circuit.
5. Sterilizers and filters for cleaning the reservoir from pollution, food residues and fish waste products.
6. Incubators for hatching larvae (if you will not buy fry).
7. Libra.
8. Containers for sturgeon.
9. Freezers.
10. Nets, buckets.

Arrangement of a pond or pool

A prerequisite is the availability of water supply, sewerage, uninterrupted supply of heating and electricity. It is advisable to purchase generators. They will come in handy in the event of a power outage. There are two options for sturgeon breeding:

• in ponds;
• in the pools.

The basement of the house is suitable for raising fish in the pool. But the room should be quite spacious, at least 30 sq. meters.

Pool

For a beginner entrepreneur, this option will be the most suitable (and profitable). Experts call this fish breeding technology - RAS, which means “installation of a closed water supply”. In practice, this translates into the construction of one or more interconnected recirculation pools to which water purification systems are connected.

Pools for sturgeon breeding can be placed in a spacious basement

To begin with, you need to purchase a plastic pool (preferably a round one) with a depth of 1 m and a diameter of 1.5–2 m. With the help of one such container, you can get up to 1 ton of products per year. As production increases, new pools need to be installed. When choosing them, be guided by the weight of the fish:

• for individuals weighing up to 300 g, a round-shaped pool with a depth of 0.8 m and a diameter of 1.5 m will be needed;
• for fish weighing from 300 g to 2 kg - capacity 1.2 in depth and 2.2 in diameter;
• for larvae weighing 0.5–5 g - rectangular plastic trays 50 cm wide and deep, 2.2 m long.

It is allowed to use pools made of materials such as:

• metal with an enamelled surface;
• polypropylene;
• concrete lined with ceramic tiles.

You will need to create conditions as close as possible to the natural habitat of sturgeons. It will be necessary to ensure the flow of purified oxygen-enriched water into the pool, which will be partially pumped out and supplied to the filters for several stages of purification (mechanical, biological), equalization of the temperature regime, oxygenation and elimination of bacteria. Thus, the liquid in the RAS system must be in constant circulation.

Important! In the room with pools, in addition to standard lighting, there should be ultraviolet lamps, which are turned on once a day to disinfect air and water.

When breeding fish in pools, the water must be well saturated with oxygen. This is done by installing a compressor.

Sturgeons also need good lighting. It should be of medium intensity. Don't use too bright light. But fish should not be kept in a dark room either.

Video: practical tips for arranging a closed water supply installation

Natural or artificial pond

Sturgeons are bred in natural and artificial ponds. This saves money on the purchase of equipment. If you decide to equip a pond in your backyard area, you should take into account a number of features:

1. The place should be well lit (about 5-7 hours a day in direct sunlight).

If natural ultraviolet light is not enough, you will have to install ultraviolet lamps for biological treatment.

2. Under the reservoir, a pit should be dug with the inner slopes of the dams.
3. A layer of sand (15–20 cm) is poured on the bottom, on top of which waterproofing is laid. For this purpose, a regular PVC or LDPE film is suitable. Then the pit is covered with a layer of gravel (about 20 cm). Sturgeons prefer a muddy bottom.

To create favorable conditions for the growth of algae and other flora, you need to add organic (manure, fallen grass) and mineral fertilizers (ammonium sulfate at the rate of 2 kg per 100 sq. M or superphosphate at the rate of 15 kg per 100 sq. M).

4. After preparation of the bottom, the planting of aquatic plants takes place. They are selected depending on the depth. At the very bottom, it is necessary to plant tillya, pond, swamp, water buttercup. Reeds and sedges should be placed in the shallow water zone (up to 40 cm deep). And from emerging plants, orontium, water lilies, elodea, egg capsules, duckweed are chosen.

On average, 10 plants of each species will be enough for one small-sized pond (4 x 6 meters) so that they maintain biological balance and saturate the water with oxygen.

5. To prevent stagnation and blooming of water in the pond, it is necessary to install a pump filtration system by placing the pump in the deepest part of the pond and connecting it to the filters using hoses.

After the arrangement of the reservoir, fry can be released.

Video: do-it-yourself ultraviolet lamp for a pond

Conditions for planting and growing fry

Raising fry at the initial stage of a business at home is quite problematic. It is much easier to buy them in fish farms specializing in sturgeon breeding. Purchase fry weighing at least 5 g and launch them in a pond in warm weather. The most suitable time is late spring or summer.

Fry can be grown from caviar, but it is much easier to buy them.

The sturgeon can live at a temperature of + 2 ° C .. + 27 ° C. But for the active growth of fish requires indicators of + 18 ° C ... + 22 ° C. Such conditions ensure the early maturation of the sturgeon.

Females begin to spawn at the age of 6 years, whereas in the wild this occurs only at 12–15 years of life of the sturgeon.

Important! There should be no more than 60 kg of fish per 1 square meter of the reservoir.

Fish care

Care involves regular feeding, cleaning of the reservoir and sorting of grown individuals and fry.

Water condition monitoring

If you are using tap water to fill your pool, install a charcoal filter to prevent chlorine from entering. Change the water every 3 days. But this should be no more than 15% of the liquid from the total volume.

Do not completely change the water in the pool!

For the full development of sturgeon, the chemical composition of water is important (the level of carbon dioxide, oxygen, pH, density of fertilizers). Analysis of the chemical composition of water can be ordered at the SES, Vodokanal or in a private independent laboratory for water analysis.

Table: optimal water composition for sturgeon breeding

Indicators exceeding the indicated ones indicate the pollution of the reservoir, which can negatively affect the life of the sturgeon. Therefore, carefully monitor the condition of the filters and wash them regularly, add the necessary chemical and biological additives.

Feeding

Sturgeons are undemanding to food. But, despite this, it is necessary to take a responsible attitude to the preparation of their diet. After all, the increase in the mass and health of the fish depends on the quality of the feed. Sturgeons can be fed live food:

• larvae of various insects;
• bloodworms;
• shellfish and worms.

Also, special balanced feeds have been developed for fish. They are available in granular form. For example, one of the popular manufacturers of such products is Aller AQUA. The company manufactures food for different categories of fish. For larvae - starting mixtures that contain immunostimulants.Juveniles can be given Aller Thalassa, Aller Performa and Aller Futura MP formulations. Aller Metabolika, Aller Trident and Aller Bronze have been developed for adult sturgeons. The manufacturer also produces food for individuals that are raised for caviar - Aller Sturqeon REP.

For sturgeon, you can purchase a special pelleted feed

Adult fish weighing 500 g and above are fed 4 times, fry - 6 times a day, adhering to the same time intervals. The feed should contain the following elements:

• 25% crude fat;
• 50% crude protein;
• 3% fiber;
• phosphorus;
• lysine.

Sturgeons eat at the same time, any deviations from the schedule can provoke stress in them.

Keep in mind that the sturgeon takes food from the bottom of the reservoir. Therefore, pick up heavy food that will not float on the surface, but will sink down. Food must be resistant to moisture and not disintegrate for at least 30 minutes.

Sturgeons develop unevenly: strong individuals push weak fish away from food and, therefore, grow faster. Therefore, repot the grown fish in a separate container every month.

Possible problems and solutions

No type of business is complete without difficulties. Growing sturgeon is no exception. So, 10% of fry dies steadily throughout the year. This is a natural process, and there are no methods of influencing it.

Another problem can be an accident or a power outage. As a result, the lighting regime is disrupted, which causes a slowdown in fish growth. The installation of an autonomous generator will help to avoid such consequences.

Also, problems can arise due to the failure of purification systems and other equipment. If you understand in advance the device of these simple mechanisms, you will be able to save money on repairs.

Video: self-cleaning the filter

Inappropriate conditions for keeping fish can provoke the development of the following diseases in them:

1. Defeat with adenoviruses. The fish shows apathy, loses weight, death occurs in 50% of cases.
2. Defeat with iridoviruses. Sturgeons refuse to feed, begin to accumulate at the bottom of the reservoir, and lose body weight. Hemorrhage from the back and abdominal cavity is observed. Death occurs in 95% of cases.
3. The defeat of the herpes virus is asymptomatic until the death of the fish. The mortality rate is 97%.
4. Flexibacillosis manifests itself as light spots near the fins and on the abdominal cavity. The mortality rate does not exceed 13%.
5. Bacterial hemorrhagic septicemia. In sick individuals, there is a lack of appetite, punctate hemorrhages on the body. The fish swims on the surface. The death rate reaches 70%.
6. Saprolegniosis. The disease is expressed in the formation of a white coating in the tail area. The mortality rate reaches 50%.

No treatment has been developed for these diseases. Prevention is the observance of the sturgeon keeping regime.

Tips for Selling Farmed Fish

For sale, they usually take individuals that have reached a weight of 500-600 g. Strong individuals grow up to the required size within six months, for weak sturgeons it takes up to 9 months. You can sell sturgeon to restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, fish shops, markets.

Creation of your own website, which will contain information about your products and prices, will help to increase sales.

It is recommended to start a business with growing 1 ton of sturgeon per year. This is the optimal amount that one person can handle. To do this, you need to purchase 1800 fry, the cost of one is 2-3 dollars. To provide 1 kg of fish growth, you will need 1–1.5 kg of feed. It can be purchased for $ 1.2 per kg. The cost of equipment depends on the volume of products grown. It will take about 3 thousand dollars to get 1 ton of fish. To determine the profit, you also need to take into account the cost of water and electricity.

Considering that the average market price for sturgeon meat is about $ 15 per kg, the income per kilogram will be about $ 5.

When growing sturgeon for caviar, the investment pays off longer. But at the same time, the profit will be higher. Sturgeon females produce eggs every 2–3 years for 17–18 years.

To turn sturgeon cultivation into a profitable business, you need to be responsible in organizing your business.Prepare the reservoir and create the necessary conditions. Clean filters regularly, change water and check equipment is working properly. Monitor the condition of the fish and the chemical composition of the water. Use good food for sturgeons, because saving on its quality can provoke the development of diseases. An attentive owner has every opportunity to get an excellent result.

Today, no one is surprised by this type of business as breeding ornamental fish for aquariums. But many do not even realize that it is possible to create a real fish farm at home. Do not be surprised, as this is quite feasible. The most ideal option is sturgeon breeding. In addition to delicious fish, there will also be high quality caviar on the table. In addition, it is she who is the real symbol of wealth. So where to start growing sturgeon?

Business benefits

Sturgeon includes not only Siberian and Russian sturgeons, but also sterlet, beluga, stellate sturgeon. If you decide to start your business in this particular area, then do not worry - it is not so difficult as it might seem at first glance. You can even carry out your plans in your own apartment. This is precisely the first advantage of this type of activity. Among the other advantages, the following are worth highlighting:

1. Caviar and fish meat are very valuable food products on the market. The demand for such products is growing daily.
2. Sturgeon is a family whose representatives perfectly tolerate any temperature changes and are not demanding on the conditions of detention.
3. In order for the fish to receive sufficient nutrition, no special knowledge or large financial costs are required.
4. A small start-up capital is required to start a business.

As you can see, domestic sturgeon breeding as a business has many advantages.

Where is the best place to raise fish

You can breed sturgeons both in a city apartment and in a country house. This will not in any way affect the quality of the final product, of course, if you do everything right. In order for sturgeon breeding at home to proceed without problems, you should prepare a room with an area of ​​30 m². It should be spacious and free.

The room where you will be raising the fish must be well heated. This is especially true in winter. At this time of the year, sturgeons need to create normal conditions for normal growth. The water temperature should not fall below 17 ° С, and in warm weather this figure should be 20-24 ° С. If you do not have such a room, then do not rush to get upset. For growing sturgeon, you can use polycarbonate greenhouses. They can accommodate a pool and heating equipment.

Where the fry will live

You can purchase all the necessary equipment from the manufacturer. However, keep in mind that this can cost you a decent amount. But the equipment will already be completely ready for use. In addition, it will be installed by specialists. If breeding sturgeon at home is a kind of hobby that generates income, then you can go a little differently.

You can make your own fish farming equipment. After all, sturgeons can reproduce well and live in non-specialized containers. To manufacture the equipment, you will need a small plastic pool no more than one meter deep and 2 to 3 meters in diameter. If the area of ​​the room allows, then you can use a larger container. In such a pool, you can grow about a ton of fish per year. In this case, you will do everything yourself. This will save on hiring and additional costs.

How to equip the pool

Growing sturgeon at home is not such a difficult business. If you approach the arrangement of the pool correctly, then such a business will bring in a decent income.Aeration, special filters and compressors must be installed in the pool. You also need a pump. After all, the pool will need to be cleaned. For sturgeon breeding to be successful, an automatic feeder must be installed. Of course, you can do without it. However, the main advantage of such equipment is that you can free yourself up a little time. If you decide to save money, then you will have to feed the fish manually.

Care must be taken when choosing a pump and compressor. Pay special attention to the fact that such equipment should not give out the full maximum during operation. Calculate how much power you need before buying. Based on this, and choose the equipment. Otherwise, all equipment will become unusable very quickly, and it will have to be replaced with a new one.

We buy fry

Sturgeon breeding begins with the acquisition of fry. Recently, a lot of fish farms have appeared that are engaged in the cultivation of various types of fish. You can buy fry there. However, do not buy the first ones that catch your eye. The sturgeon family is quite large. This allows you to acquire the kind of fish that will be unpretentious in care.

The opinion of experts will also be useful. They will tell you how to spot low-quality fry. The purchase of young animals should be approached with all responsibility. After all, the success of your enterprise depends on this. Remember that low-quality fry will grow slowly. It is possible that they will often get sick.

Choosing the right food

Breeding sturgeon at home is a simple process if you follow all the rules. The choice of feed requires special attention. There are several peculiarities in this matter. Remember that representatives of sturgeon feed exclusively from the bottom. Therefore, only buy food that sinks in water and does not float on the surface. It is also worth considering the fact that sturgeon has a well-developed sense of smell. It is this feeling that they are guided by when choosing a feed. Therefore, the product with which you are going to feed the fish must have a pleasant aroma for them.

The feed should not be degraded by water. This is another rule that must be observed, since sturgeons do not swallow food whole, but gradually absorb it. The feed must withstand exposure to moisture for at least 30 minutes. Breeding sturgeon at home may seem quite difficult for many. But actually it is not. The food for this type of fish should be soft, so the sturgeon will eat it faster. If you want the fry to quickly turn into large fish, then their food should not only be tasty, but also high in calories. Consider the size of the sturgeon when choosing food. If the fish are small, then the pieces of food should be small.

Sturgeon feed composition

Food for these fish can be completely different. But experts recommend using products that contain phosphorus, lysine, fats, protein, and fiber. This is the most useful food for sturgeon.

How to breed fish in a pond

Growing sturgeon in a private house or apartment has some disadvantages. For example, a limited area, maintaining a certain temperature regime, and more. It is much easier to raise fish in a pond. You can use a pond that is already ready. If this is not the case, then you will have to create it. The old pond must be cleaned before the fry are launched. If you create a reservoir yourself, then you should lime it. To do this, place a small layer of lime on the bottom, then pour out enough water and rinse. This procedure should be carried out about a few weeks before the fry start.

It is better to make the bottom of the pond in the form of a bowl. Of course, one should not forget about the corresponding fauna and flora. The reservoir should contain worms, a variety of green fertilizers, reeds, algae.If you wish, you can place clams in the pond. Ordinary insects will also be useful, which will serve as additional food. It is better to put fry into the pond in the summer.

Finally

As you can see, sturgeon breeding in a pond is a profitable business. You do not need to occupy a separate room or buy expensive equipment. The only thing that is required is to choose the right food. In general, sturgeon farming brings a good income.

A great alternative to traditional livestock breeding is sturgeon cultivation at home. We will not advertise caviar, as this is a product that is a real treasure of useful trace elements, vitamins and minerals.

Its growing cycle is quite long. This article will focus on the production of fish, which is also in good demand in restaurants and supermarkets.

Production involves obtaining environmentally friendly products such as sturgeon meat. This fish species includes many species, among which the most popular are: beluga, sterlet, stellate sturgeon, Siberian and Russian sturgeon.

In appearance, these inhabitants of the underwater depths, although they have differences, but this does not affect the process of growing sturgeon at home - for all varieties, it is approximately similar.

Many skeptics will immediately begin to doubt and ask a lot of questions. We want to immediately dispel all doubts and give a lot of arguments regarding doing this type of business.

• The demand for the products is quite high, and this is possible due to the large number of food supermarkets, fish shops and prestigious restaurants.
• This type of business does not need high costs, which at the initial stage becomes a clear advantage.
• Relatively low competition allows selling goods at high prices, which increases business profits. Many have not even heard about growing sturgeon at home, and this holds great promise.
• Every day you need to devote only 3-4 hours of your time to business, and you can do it in parallel with other things.
• Breeding sturgeon fish does not require special knowledge and skills, and all this can be found on the Internet at thematic forums on the Internet.
• The sturgeon lives well at home and is a picky fish. He is practically not susceptible to diseases and problems can arise only when feeding him poor quality feed.
• The business is highly profitable and pays off in 6-9 months.

These arguments are quite enough to start breeding sturgeon.

When opening any type of business, you need to take care of its legality. The best option would be

IP registration

or

OOO

, since in both cases it will be possible to pay a single tax. When registering, you will need to set the correct

direction of activity according to OKVED.

Fish farming is best suited for these purposes, but it also has its own subtleties, so consultation with the tax office will never be superfluous. For more information on how to choose the right OKVED, follow the link - there is no complicated business in this type of business, but you need to know certain subtleties of this matter. It is important to choose the right room, equipment and fish food.

Sturgeon room

For breeding fish of this breed, an area of ​​25-30 square meters is suitable. It can be either a private house or one large room in a city apartment.

The room must be heated. The temperature of the water in the pools in winter should not be lower than 17 degrees Celsius, and in summer not higher than 24 degrees.

If it is difficult to find a suitable room, then you can equip a heated polycarbonate greenhouse and install all the necessary equipment in it.

Fish farming equipment

Specialized equipment equipped with everything you need can be purchased from manufacturers.Prices for it are different and depend on the volume of containers.

On average, a beginner entrepreneur will have to spend 10-15 thousand dollars, and not everyone has such funds. You can go the other way and make or buy containers yourself. The sturgeon will feel good even in non-specialized pools.

Minimum container size should be 1.5-2 meters in diameter and 0.8-1 meters deep. If you count, then for the season you can get about a ton of sturgeon from such a pool, which is quite a lot.

All fish in the rearing process are divided into categories, and for each of them there are certain minimum requirements. They are as follows:

• Sturgeon up to 300 grams - diameter up to 1.5 meters, depth 0.6-0.8 meters.
• Sturgeon from 300 grams to 2 kg - depth from 0.8 to 1.2 meters, diameter from 1.5 to 2.2 meters.
• Malek - rectangular containers with a depth and width of 0.5 meters and a length of up to 2 meters.

If there is a country house with a pond available, then in the warm season, grow sturgeon in it. To do this, you must first prepare the bottom and water - plant the plants and add the necessary mollusks and worms.

In winter, so that the fish does not freeze, it is necessary to move it into plastic tanks, and with the onset of heat, release it again into its natural habitat.

The condition of water in tanks must be carefully monitored and the following equipment is used for this:

• Filters and pumps.
• Compressor equipped with air and water lines.
• Automatic feeders and nets.

You can buy sturgeon fry in specialized fish farms. In order not to be mistaken, you need to find out in detail about the place where you are going to buy fry.

It is best to ask experienced entrepreneurs or explore specialized forums on the subject. The purchase of fry is a very important stage, which must be taken very seriously. The profitability of the business in the future may depend on this.

Since this fish is rather unpretentious to feed, there are several options. You can purchase products from foreign or domestic manufacturers, as well as make them yourself.

Adults are fed 4 times a day, young animals - 6 times. A lot depends on the quality of the feed, and with poor production, the fish will gain weight very slowly. The sturgeon feeds from the bottom, so the particles of the mixture should be immersed on the bottom and not soaked in water for about 30 minutes.

The composition of quality feed of any modification should be as follows:

• Roughly 45-50 percent protein.
• About 25% crude fat.
• Fiber - 3-4 percent.
• Vitamins, minerals and trace elements necessary for fish.

This fish is easy to care for and does not need special conditions for breeding. But some of the nuances must be observed.

An important point when growing sturgeon is compliance with the diet. It is necessary to give food at the same time, otherwise the fish may refuse it!

The next moment that can lead to its death or slow growth is cold and polluted water. Below 17 degrees Celsius, its temperature should not fall. It is necessary to clean and change the water as it gets dirty.

This point is most interesting for an entrepreneur. How much can such a business bring in a year? It was noted above that from one pool installed in an apartment, you can get about a ton of fish.

For such a quantity of sturgeon, the purchase of a noticeably 2000 pieces of fry is required, costing $ 0.2. Feed for growing one ton will need to be purchased for 1000 dollars.

Other expenses include payments for water and electricity, if there is no own well. They will make about $ 500 for the whole cycle.

If you buy a completely ready-made equipment, then a kit for breeding such an amount of fish will cost $ 10,000.When making it on your own and purchasing individual elements (filters, feeders, compressors, nets, containers, and so on), you can invest in 4-5 thousand dollars.

We consider our investments and costs:

• Malek - $ 400.
• Feed - $ 1000.
• Water and electricity - $ 500.
• Pool with equipment - $ 5,000 or $ 10,000.

That is, you will have to invest $ 7,000 in this business if you make the equipment yourself and $ 12,000 if you buy a ready-made kit.

Sturgeon can be sold at restaurants and hypermarkets for an average of $ 8 per kilogram. That is, from a ton we get $ 8000. It turns out that if you make the equipment yourself, then in one year you can recoup your investment. reach a net profit of $ 1000.

In the case of the purchase of a ready-made kit, after two years of work, the income in excess of the investments will be $ 2,000. In the future, you can get annually about $ 6,000 of net profit.

Summing up, we can say that growing sturgeon at home is

promising business

with great profitability. So far, there is very low competition in this industry, but in a year or two the situation may change. Good luck with your business!

Growing sturgeon at home - video with step-by-step instructions:

You can keep and breed an unpretentious sterlet at home! Moreover, the caviar and meat of this unpretentious fish are incredibly healthy and are highly valued in the market. Having thought over the layout of the aquarium and purchasing fry, the owner will be able to build a profitable business and start selling fish in 5-6 months!

The content of the article:

• Tanks and equipment for growing sterlet
• Sterlet food and fry
• Features of home breeding of sterlet
• Growing sterlet as a business
• Choosing a place for fish farming
• Growing sterlet in a pond
• An example of a successful business

Since ancient times, the sterlet has been considered one of the most exquisite fish delicacies. This unique fish belongs to the sturgeon family. The body of the fish is up to sixty-five centimeters long and weighs ten kilograms. There are even more individuals, but they are found only in the wild and that is quite rare.

Every year in the oceans and seas, sterlet becomes less and less, for this reason, in order to increase the fish population and prevent it from disappearing as a species, it began to be grown in artificial reservoirs, both at home and on an industrial scale.

Some fans breed sterlet at home for their own pleasure, while others are engaged in growing it for sale, using this idea as a fairly profitable business.

Tanks and equipment for growing sterlet

At the very beginning of the way of breeding this breed of sturgeon, you can not build an artificial reservoir, but simply purchase a standard plastic pool one meter deep and two and a half meters in diameter. It can grow up to a ton of sterlet in a year.

In order for the fry to grow and develop, the pool must be equipped with filtration and aeration elements, and from time to time the container must be cleaned. For this reason, those who decide to breed sterlet will need to purchase a compressor unit, pumps and filters.

If finances permit, it is advisable to buy an automatic feeder. When choosing a compressor and pump, you need to take units that will handle a slightly larger volume of water than you have. This is done to ensure that the equipment does not work at its maximum capacity and lasts as long as possible. Over time, you can buy another pool and significantly expand the farm.

Sterlet food and fry

It is very difficult to breed sterlet fry at home, and without the appropriate equipment and skills it is completely impossible. For this reason, it is best to purchase them in one of the proven fish farms that are engaged in the cultivation of this breed of sturgeon.

It is not worth saving here, because the better and healthier the fry are, the sooner they will grow, which means that the breeder will be able to make good profits. Regarding feed additives for sterlet, there are some peculiarities that must be taken into account when breeding. The food should be the same size as the fish. That is, for small fish - smaller, and for large individuals - more.

Feed additives for this sturgeon species should be high in calories and rich in protein, lysine, fat, as well as fiber and phosphorus. Most of all, the feed should contain exactly protein and fat.

For this reason, it is also not worth saving on the stern. It is better to buy it specifically for sterlet, since in this case it will fully meet its needs. Another feature of feeding is strict adherence to temperature. It should reach twenty to twenty four degrees. Such a temperature regime must always be maintained in the reservoir, otherwise the fish will eat poorly and, accordingly, grow.

Features of home breeding of sterlet

The most exciting question for farmers is when the fish will start to grow and be profitable. So how does the fry grow?

Often, five grams of fry are taken for breeding sterlet. They all grow in different ways. Half of the fish in six months can weigh five hundred grams, the second half will weigh less, and after a while it will "surpass" the weight of more "well-fed" brethren.

The most popular product is considered to be fish, which weighs five hundred grams or more. Owners of supermarkets and restaurants willingly take it. In our country, the consumption of sterlet is not too high, but still, since there is practically no such fish on the market, it is sold out with a bang. It is for this reason that this type of business is considered very profitable.

After the largest individuals have grown, the smaller ones need a few more months to grow up. After a month and a half, a medium-sized fish grows, and then a smaller one grows. Already nine months after landing in the pool of the first batch, you can load a new one. If breeding is going well, you can buy more pools and expand your farm.

Growing sterlet as a business

You will surprise no one with such a business as growing aquarium fish, but few people realize that at home you can create a real mini-farm for growing sterlet. If you make an effort, you can make very good money. Where to start building your successful business?

Business benefits

Sterlet belongs to the sturgeon family. It is quite simple and unpretentious in content, if you approach it wisely. You can organize your own mini farm even in apartment conditions. This is exactly the first advantage in growing sterlet. But there are the following advantages of this type of business:

• healthy meat and caviar: these products are in great demand on the market and the demand for them is growing every day;
• sterlet is unpretentious in keeping and therefore even a beginner can comprehend the peculiarities of its cultivation; for growing this type of sturgeon at home, large cash costs will not be needed.

Of all the advantages listed above, one thing can be said that the sterlet breeding business is quite a profitable business.

Choosing a place for fish farming

You can breed sterlet in any conditions. The choice of location will not affect the final result in any way, but only if you follow all the necessary instructions.

If a breeder decides to breed fish in a private house, he should allocate a spacious room of thirty square meters for it, which will be well heated, especially in winter.

In winter, in order for the sterlet to grow and develop normally, it must be provided with a temperature regime of at least seventeen degrees, and in summer the temperature should not drop below twenty degrees. Also for its cultivation, you can use a polycarbonate greenhouse, in which you can place a plastic pool.

Place for fry to live

If the breeder has the necessary capital, it is best to buy special equipment from the manufacturer. After installation, it can be used immediately, and all the necessary details will be included in it.

If there is not too much money for the purchase of equipment, you can create it yourself. To do this, you can use a meter-long plastic pool with a diameter of two to three meters: it can grow about a ton of sterlet per year.

Pool equipment

In order to create normal living conditions for fish, the pool must be equipped with aerators, compressors and filters. You will also need pumping equipment as the pool needs to be cleaned. To make it easier to grow sterlet, the pool must be equipped with an automatic feeder. Special care must be taken when choosing a pump and compressor. You need to buy powerful units, since they will last much longer than their low-power counterparts.

Buying fry

Breeding sterlet begins with the purchase of fry. This is best done in specialized fish farms with a proven track record. You should not take the first fry that come across; before purchasing them, you need to consult with specialists in order to purchase really high-quality fish that will not die out in a few days.

The right choice of feed

Breeding sterlet is quite simple, the main thing is to choose the right food. Since the sterlet prefers to eat at the bottom, it is necessary to buy only that food that sinks and smells good, since fish mainly look for it by smell.

Also, the feed should not break and crumble in the water. This is important for the sterlet because it does not swallow it immediately, but eats it gradually. In addition, the feed should be soft, tasty, high in calories and contain protein, phosphorus, fiber, lysine and fats. On such supplements, fish not only grow well, but also do not get sick.

Growing sterlet in a pond

Breeding sterlet in an apartment or house is quite simple, but still has its drawbacks. For example, they include a small area, maintaining the required microclimate, and so on. It is much easier to breed fish in a pond.

It can be grown both in the finished and in the created reservoir. If the pond is old, then before starting the fry, it must be cleaned.

If you create a pond yourself, you first need to lime it. To do this, a small layer of lime must be poured onto the bottom, filled with water and rinsed thoroughly. This procedure is carried out a couple of weeks before the launch of the fish.

The bottom is best shaped like a bowl. Do not forget about algae and various animals that the fish will consume. Can be brought into the pond and shellfish. Early summer is best for starting fry.

An example of a successful business

As an example of home breeding of sterlet, we can cite the mini-farm of Alexander Emtsev from st. Dolzhanskaya Yeisk district. He set up a minifarm in a pond in the courtyard of his own house. He not only breeds fish for sale, but also fishes with friends in his home pond in his free time. Alexander plans to create two more such reservoirs and the cultivation of other sturgeon breeds.

Growing sterlet at home is quite profitable and, if all conditions are met, it is quite simple. Therefore, if you dream of starting fish farming, you can safely start making your dream come true.