Effects of short terms starvation periods on body composition of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baeri)

Fish may experience periods of food deprivation or starvation in nature (such as seasonal migration and reproduction) and under culture conditions (unpredictable stress such as transporting and sorting). With respect to vital role of starvation periods on body composition, the current study was carried out in autumn 2010 at International Sturgeon Research Institute. After adaptation for one month to experimental conditions, 240 experimental fish, with initial body weight of 19.26±0.89 g were randomly distributed in twelve 500 L fiberglass tanks. The control group (C) was fed to apparent satiation throughout the experiment and other three groups were deprived of feed for 2 (T1), 4 (T2) and 8 (T3) days, respectively. At the end of starvation periods, Samples from each treatment for the analyses of body composition (protein, lipid, moisture, fiber, carbohydrate, energy and ash) was collected. The results indicated that different starvation periods did not affect moisture, ash, fiber and carbohydrate values between the treatments and the control group (P> 0.05). Protein value in the fish starved for 2 days was significantly lowers (P< 0.05) than the control fish. Fat value in the fish starved for 2 days was significantly higher (P< 0.05) than the fish starved for 4 and 8 days. Also, energy value varied significantly (P< 0/05) between the control and the fish starved for 8 days. It could be conclude that Siberian sturgeon could adapt to short-term starvation and fish body tried its best through physiological and biological means to buffer the effect of starvation on its body composition.