Effects of photoperiod and light intensity on growth factors and survival rate in Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persius (Borodin, 1897) in larval to fingerling stage

Reduction of quality and quantity of wild and farm Persian sturgeon in early life cycle is the most important problems in this endemic and economical species. The purpose of this study was to increase the production efficiency of Acipenser persicus in the first feeding stage to fingerling stage using effect reaction between photoperiod and light intensity. This study was conducted with 13 treatments including 4 photoperiod (24L:00D, 16L:08D, 12L:12D and 08L:16D), 3 light intensity (100, 250 and 450 lux) and one control with three repetition in each treatment (each repeated include 1800 larvae with initial weight and length 41.66 mg and 19.64 mm, respectably) during 60 days. During the experimental period, individual body length and weight were taken at the first and 60th day after the first feeding. All of the fish were fed on live food in the same amount. Biological measurements, including final weight, final length, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), condition factor (CF), body weight increase (BWI (and Survival rate (SR), were analyzed. The result indicated that except for survival rate, growth factors were subject to the mutual effect of photoperiod and light intensity, although the final weight and length were affected more by the photoperiod. The growth factors of fish that were in 12L:12D photoperiod with an intensity of 100 lux and 08L:16D photoperiod with an intensity of 250lux were significantly better than others photoperiod and light intensity treatments.