Is it possible to grow sturgeon at home?

The Russian sturgeon is one of the most numerous representatives of the genus Acipenser. This fish can be successfully bred on your mini-farm using closed water supply installations - recirculating water (they allow not only speeding up the process, but also increasing productivity) or in an artificial pond. With knowledge of breeding technology and maintaining optimal conditions, a highly profitable business can be created based on this idea.

How to raise a sturgeon at home?

The sturgeon inhabits the basins of the Black, Azov and Caspian Seas, the rivers flowing into them, creating local fish stocks. The body of the individual has an elongated, fusiform shape, the snout is short, blunt. The color can vary greatly, as a rule, it is grayish-black, grayish-brown.

Breeding sturgeon at home is possible only if optimal environmental conditions are ensured. They can be created in an artificial pond or by equipping a closed water supply installation. For the installation of the latter, you will need a land plot with a room or an insulated frameless hangar. The area should not be less than 30 m², the best option is 100 m². The building must be supplied with electricity, running water, sewerage, and heating (you can do this with your own hands).

But when creating a sturgeon reservoir, special attention should be paid to the layout of the soil bed, the provision of good water supply and the possibility of water discharge. It is good if the land plot has a natural depression or the shape of a ravine with a gentle slope, a slight longitudinal slope. If in winter it will not be possible to maintain the optimal water temperature, then the sturgeons should be moved to the pool and returned to the pond only in spring (a few days before this, the salinity of the water should be increased - up to 5%). In addition to these options, sturgeon can be bred in thermal sedimentation tanks near power plants. This makes it easier to ensure the optimal temperature regime. The growth rate of the fish stock is uneven, but on average they gain 500 g in 6-8 months.

To turn sturgeon breeding into a profitable business and do it legally, you need to legalize your activity. The owners of domestic fish farms work under the second group of taxation on a single tax. Classifier of economic activities (KVED) - freshwater fish farming, aquaculture.SES will not check the home farm, but for the veterinary service you need to prepare a certificate of form No. 1 for planting material, a certificate for feed and know that a water sample will be taken. In order to obtain the conclusion of the veterinary inspection, allowing the trade of sturgeon, you need to provide several kilograms of products for analysis. Rospotrebnadzor will not conduct an audit, since from January 1, 2016 until the end of 2018, scheduled inspections of organizations, individual entrepreneurs in the field of small business are prohibited.

Commercial sturgeon breeding has begun to develop actively over the past 10-15 years. For the first time this was done in countries where natural resources are limited (USA, Western Europe). Opening a fish farm is a profitable venture, because in many regions fish farming is very limited, and the implementation is seasonal or spontaneous. There are many examples of successful implementation of this business idea in Russia.

Advice: to reduce the effect of stress factors - the use of feed not typical for fish, the impact of fish-breeding manipulations (weighing, sorting), it is advisable to include probiotics in the food.

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Equipment for sturgeon breeding at home, price

A closed water supply installation consists of the following parts:

1. Pools for sturgeon (one costs about 14 thousand per 3 m³, 4-10 of them will be needed). They look like containers made of fiberglass and other materials, sometimes with observation windows. Pools should allow quick water purification, good visibility of the herd and not create traumatic situations (uneven rough surface, sharp corners).
2. Pipelines (about 5 thousand rubles).
3. Filtration system and pumps (100-500 thousand). It includes an oxygen generator, mechanical and biofilter, UV unit. It is needed to remove excess feed, feces from the water.

Growing sturgeon in closed water supply installationsClosed water supply installation

Also, at home, an emergency life support system for a sturgeon, a water treatment unit (for disinfection, temperature regulation, oxygen saturation of water) can be installed. There are ready-made fish hatchery modules on sale. The price (depending on performance) varies in the range from 200 to 750 thousand rubles. Electricity consumption averages 3.7-5.5 kWh. In addition to the basic components of the system, containers for transportation, disinfection of equipment, tables, cages, trays for breeding fry and hatching of larvae, fish shields, and foam catchers will be needed. An artificial pond for sturgeon breeding also needs to be equipped. Required components: filters, pump, UV lamps.

Experienced fish farmers say that to create a home farm it will take about $ 3,000 to purchase equipment and an average of $ 1,000 to purchase fry and feed.

Advice: it is quite possible to make some equipment for sturgeon breeding with your own hands (pool, biofilter, heating system). Manufacturing instructions can be found online at specialized forums, websites, in specialized literature.

In order to minimize risks and clearly understand the stages of development of a sturgeon farm at home, it is worth writing a business plan, which will take into account all the nuances, necessary costs and calculate the expected profitability.

DIY sturgeon food

The speed and quality of fish growth is directly dependent on nutrition. Special equipment will help to accurately dose each meal at home, and special filters will clean the water from food debris and waste products in time. All processes in closed water supply installations are automated, and sensors control the hydrochemical indicators of water. Most novice fish farmers prefer to provide adults and juveniles with dry granulated production compound feed. But you can make them yourself.

Advice: The optimum temperature for sturgeon breeding is 20-22 ° C.

There is no consensus as to which proportions and composition of feed are best. Every experienced fish farmer has his own opinion on this matter. But the optimal meal schedule has long been developed. Fry should eat up to 12 times a day, adults - 6, preferably at the same time, then the frequency of food intake is reduced. The daily rate is calculated according to special feed tables, for example, according to Ponomarev. Food is served in small portions, keeping an eye on the palate. It is important to know that different feeds have different particle or pellet sizes:

• starting (for larvae, young animals);
• production (for commercial sturgeon).

They should contain a sufficient amount of protein, fat, fiber, lysine, phosphorus. If you have experience, you can make the formula yourself. Underyearlings (young growth) of sturgeons feed on brine shrimp, tubuleworms, oligochaetes, and daphnia zooplankton. After gaining weight more than 35 g, they begin to give starter feed. At the initial stage, it is better to use industrial products. Over time, adults can be fed with homemade formula feeds. They are prepared from minced fish, special flour, egg powder, yeast and premix (a mixture of dietary supplements, vitamins, minerals to enrich food). Also, different recipes often include wheat, peas, soy sprat. The diet can be enriched with silkworms, brine shrimp, chlorella.

It is convenient to organize a fish farm in the country or in the village, where there is the necessary territory and the necessary conditions. In addition to this option, there are other opportunities to start your own business with minimal investment, for example, growing broilers, vegetables, strawberries in a greenhouse, breeding Vietnamese piglets.

Is it profitable to breed sturgeon at home?

Before opening your fish farm, it is important to define your target market. The sturgeon is considered an industrially valuable fish. It makes it possible to obtain products such as:

• meat (raw, ice cream, salted, dried, smoked);
• caviar;
• glue (swimming bladders are used for manufacturing);
• food product vizigu (dorsal string).

As a rule, sturgeon is grown at home to a weight of 500-600 g and sold. This product is relevant for owners of restaurants, shops, supermarkets, wholesale organizations, it can also be successfully marketed. Due to the downward trend in sturgeon stocks, prices for fish farm products are growing every year. In America and European countries, the market price for 1 kg of sturgeon meat is $ 18-22. In the domestic market, the cost of sturgeon starts at 500 rubles. According to experts, a fish farm with a capacity of about 5 tons per year gives the owner a profit of up to 2.5 million rubles, and the profitability can reach 50-60%. In addition to meat, fish farmers successfully sell caviar and fry.

If the owner is not in a hurry to return the investment, then it is more profitable to keep the sturgeon for caviar. According to the reviews of fish breeders, for 1 kg it will be possible to gain $ 700-900. If necessary, RNKB Bank can issue a loan for a business in Crimea "For business development" in the amount of 500,000 to 70,000,000 rubles. (maturity 6-60 months).

Breeding sturgeon in RAS

It is possible to create a profitable sturgeon farm thanks to the installation of a closed water supply. It makes it possible to provide optimal conditions for the rapid growth of sturgeon in artificial conditions. The cost of a finished technological project for breeding, for example, 5 tons per year (taking into account consultations and visits of specialists for setting up, launching the system) is not cheap. But you can create it yourself at home. Breeding sturgeon in closed water supply installations allows to significantly accelerate the growth of fish, reduce mortality in comparison with natural conditions.

Breeding sturgeon in RAS

The main conditions are compliance with the technology of sturgeon breeding in a closed cycle of water supply, optimization of the temperature regime. It is these parameters that provide favorable conditions for productive consumption, use of feed, an increase in the rate of growth and development, and oxygen consumption. It is important to remember that large fluctuations in temperature inhibit the growth of the young. Also, for the intensity of production at home, the parameters of the stocking density of individuals and the saturation of water with oxygen, the stability of hydrochemical indicators are very important.

It is possible to increase the efficiency of artificial reproduction of sturgeon by changing the timing of obtaining reproductive products and breeding larvae and young animals. Therefore, mini-farms must be equipped with special temperature controlled modules. It is desirable to keep the broodstock and breed the young in water with high salinity.

In addition to meat, the owner of the farm will be able to sell caviar. But the process of growing it has its own characteristics. It is necessary to determine the sex at an early stage and separate the females into a separate herd. Under RAS conditions (in contrast to natural ones), the process of their maturation occurs faster due to the year-round content in water with an optimal temperature.

Modern technologies make it possible to create an automated sturgeon production at home with minimal losses and a good profit. A fish farm must be equipped with equipment that will create the most comfortable conditions for sturgeon breeding. Knowledge of technology and preliminary search for a sales market will help turn a business idea into a very profitable business.

Video: growing sturgeon at home

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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 is 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 popular products. 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. It takes 3-4 hours a day to take care of the fish. 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 breeding sturgeon:

• 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 round) 1 m deep and 1.5–2 m in diameter. With 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 even in a dark room, fish should not be kept.

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, 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 onto 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 sturgeon. 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, during the year, 10% of the fry stably die. 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 will help to increase sales, which will contain information about your products and prices.

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 sturgeon, because saving on its quality can provoke the development of diseases. An attentive owner has every opportunity to get an excellent result.

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Solving the issue of food security of the world's population is one of the most important tasks of the 21st century. Therefore, a novice entrepreneur who decides to create a business for the production and sale of food products will almost 100% win.

Growing sturgeon at home is not only a great alternative to traditional livestock industries (pig, livestock and poultry). It is also a unique opportunity to get high-quality, environmentally friendly fish products that have no analogues in their taste. (sturgeon meat), "royal" delicious black caviar and unique sturgeon skin. The broad group of fish under the general name "sturgeon" includes the following breeds: Siberian sturgeon, beluga, Russian sturgeon, sterlet, stellate sturgeon and some others.

And although the listed breeds differ from each other anatomically and physiologically, they are similar in terms of the main indicators for the fish farmer: all sturgeons are not very picky about food, and most importantly, they all feel great in fresh water.

Features of the sturgeon business

When considering whether to start doing this particular business, you need to take into account that breeding sturgeon at home has a number of features:

1. High demand for fish products and a wide area of ​​sale of sturgeon (restaurants, specialized fish stores, hypermarkets, pet stores, etc.).
2. Relatively low competition (not everyone will be engaged in this business, and many simply have not heard of this type of activity).
3. Doesn't require fabulous investments. To start a business, a novice fish farmer-entrepreneur will need a very small amount of money.
4. It is not necessary to have special knowledge on the topic. Start raising sturgeon you can, with a minimum of knowledge of fish. Everything comes from experience, as well as from numerous literature and the Internet.
5. Business doesn't take a lot of time. Daily sturgeon need to be given 3-4 hours. The exceptions are sorting days, which are monthly and take almost a whole day (15-16 hours).
6. Sturgeon perfectly take root at home. They do not have special requirements for feeding, lighting and maintenance.
7. The sturgeon is practically not susceptible to any infectious and non-infectious diseases (with the exception of stomach disorders that occur when feeding fish with low-quality feed).
8. The business will start paying for itself within 7-9 months.

Well, do you still have doubts about the feasibility and prospects of home breeding of sturgeons?

Equipment for growing sturgeon at home video is presented below. We recommend to watch.

Premises

Having finally confirmed his intention to start breeding sturgeon, the entrepreneur must first of all find a suitable premises for this purpose. If in the near future it is not planned to create a large fish-breeding holding, then an apartment or a private house is suitable for placing fish "reservoirs".

It is recommended to select an area of ​​at least 30 m² for sturgeon cultivation in the pools. The room should contain: water supply, uninterrupted power supply (in case of voltage drops in the power grid, you need to have one constantly working generator and one autonomous), heating, ventilation and sewerage system.

It is also necessary to take into account that sturgeons are rather shy and stress-resistant fish. Therefore, it is not recommended to place swimming pools near highways, public places (stadiums, markets). In addition, all sturgeon are bottom dwellers that do not need excessive lighting.

Tanks for sturgeon breeding

There are two main ways of raising sturgeon at home: in pools and in ponds. Let's consider both of these options.

Pools. For the first time, a novice businessman can purchase an ordinary plastic pool. The dimensions of such a tank are: diameter 1.5-2 m, and depth - up to 1 m. The yield of live products (per year) from such a small pool is about 1 ton. If you have certain skills, you can make a fish pool yourself. This will reduce the cost of future products, but will require additional time. As production expands, additional pools will need to be purchased (or constructed). In this case, it is necessary to take into account the sizes of containers for various fish categories:

• for fish weighing up to 300 g - round-shaped pools having a depth of about 0.8 m and a diameter of 1.5 m;
• for fish weighing from 300 g to 2 kg - round-shaped pools having a depth of 1.2 m and a diameter of 2.2 m;
• sorting tanks (they are inhabited by a larva with a mass of 0.5-5 g; sturgeon sorting is also carried out here) - rectangular trays with a depth and width of 50 cm and a length of 2.2 m.

But whatever the pool is, it is necessary to carefully monitor its cleanliness, regularly change the water and purify it, as well as maintain a certain temperature of the indoor air and water in the pool. Sturgeon feels great at temperatures from + 2 to + 27 ° C, but the best temperature the regime for intensive growth and reproduction of fish ranges from + 17 to + 22 ° C. At this temperature, sturgeon females begin to throw caviar from the age of 6 (in wildlife, the process begins at the age of 12-15).

In addition to the pool for this type of sturgeon breeding, you need to additionally purchase filters, a pump, a compressor, auto feeders (optional, you can feed it manually), air and water pipelines, nets, etc.

Ponds. If a businessman has an artificial or natural pond on his personal plot, then it is possible to breed sturgeons in it. In this case, it will be possible to significantly save on the purchase of equipment.

Before using the artificial pond, you need to prepare it. For starters out of it completely drain the water, clean and sprinkle the bottom of the pond with lime. Then the lime is washed off and the pond is filled with water.

After cleaning, it is necessary to settle in an artificial reservoir of all kinds of mollusks, worms; plant algae and other freshwater plants in the pond. All manipulations must be carried out 1.5-2 months before the intended landing of the fry in the pond. It is best to put the fry into the pond during the warm season (late spring or summer).

It is worth thinking about sturgeon wintering.So that the fish simply does not freeze, it is better to send it to the pools for the winter, and return it to the pond with the onset of heat.

Feeding fish

Sturgeon are not very picky about food. But one should not forget that the rate of increase in live weight of sturgeons and their state of health in general directly depends on how high-quality food the fish eat. In feeding sturgeon, the following options are possible:

1. Feeding with foreign feeds with a high feed ratio (CC);
2. Feeding with domestic, "local" feed;
3. Feeding with self-prepared feed.

Also, feeds differ in age categories: fry should not be fed with food intended for adult fish.

Feed adult fish need 4 times a day, and fry 6 times a day at regular intervals. It is very important to follow the feeding schedule: if the sturgeon does not feed at the same time, it may even refuse to feed (this is a stressful situation).

High-quality feed for sturgeon must include: crude protein (approximately 45-50%), crude fat (20-25%), fiber (3%), lysine, phosphorus and other macro- and microelements.

When choosing food for fish, one should not forget that the sturgeon is a bottom dweller that feeds exclusively from the bottom of the reservoir. This means that the food must be heavy enough not to float on the surface of the water, but to drown to the bottom. The food should be flavorful enough, as the sturgeon is oriented mostly by smell. The proposed food should not fall apart in the water for at least 30 minutes, since all sturgeon are real gourmets who love long meals.

Care and breeding of fry

Sturgeon is a fish that is unpretentious in terms of keeping conditions. The main care for sturgeon is to observe feeding regime; keeping the pool (pond) clean; timely sorting of fry and grown fish.

If water is supplied to the pools from the mains, it is necessary to prevent the ingress of residual chlorine into the pool. This can be done with an inexpensive carbon filter. The pool water is not 100% replaced in one go. Not more often than once every 3 days, a small part of the water is changed (12-15% of the total volume of water in the pool).

The fish is carefully checked every month. The grown sturgeons are transplanted into another pool, and the fry are left to grow up.

It will not be easy for a novice businessman to start breeding fry at home. First, an adult sturgeon (even under ideal conditions) begins to spawn no earlier than at the age of 6. And secondly, not knowing all the intricacies of caring for fish, you can get a high mortality rate among fry. Therefore, at the initial stage, it is better to acquire fry in specialized large fish farms.

Profitability

And now the main question that interests any businessman most of all: how much income will the business bring? Is it profitable to grow sturgeon at home?

To get 1 ton of fish for sale, you need to purchase about 1800 pieces of fry. The minimum cost of 1 fry is 12 rubles. We will spend 19,800 rubles for all the fry. Feed for the entire growing period needs to be purchased for about 70,000 thousand rubles. 10,000 and 18,000 thousand rubles will be spent on water and electricity. respectively. It turns out that in order to grow 1 ton of marketable fish, it will be necessary to spend about 120 thousand rubles on its cultivation. That is, the cost of fish (1 kg) is approximately 120 rubles. Sturgeon can be sell to a restaurant, etc. for 500 rubles / kg. Consequently, the net profit comes out to about 380 rubles. from 1 kg. And in a year, the profit is obtained up to 380 thousand rubles

Thus, breeding sturgeon at home can become a real Klondike for a novice businessman. Once again, we recall the main stages of creating this business:

• selection, purchase and preparation of a container for future fish (pool or pond);
• purchase of the necessary equipment and feed;
• coordination of business opening with veterinarians and sanitary and epidemiological station;
• purchase of fish fry;
• careful fish care and timely cleaning in the pools;
• obtaining marketable products in the form of 500 grams or more of sturgeon (it is from this weight that fish can be sold to restaurants and other points of sale).

And, of course, the businessman's irrepressible desire to get the results of his work and great patience. After all, to paraphrase the well-known proverb: you can't pull a sturgeon out of a pond without difficulty!

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Today, no one is surprised by this type of business as the breeding of 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 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 sturgeons 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, 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. A similar 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.