Effects of starvation and feeding strategies on growth and body composition in Russian sturgeon ( Acipenser gueldenstaedtii )

In this study, the effects of starvation and feeding strategies on growth and carcass composition of Russian sturgeon ( Acipenser gueldenstaedtii ) juveniles with mean body weight (± SE) 77 ± 0.33 g were investigated for 8 weeks. The storage density was 20 fish in 1000- liter tank. For this purpose, a total of 180 Russian sturgeon were divided into 3 treatments included starvation, restricted feeding and full feeding with 3 replicates. Biometry was conducted to assess the growth performance every 2 weeks interval. Results showed that there was significant reduction in growth performances included weight gain, body weight increase, condition factor and specific growth rate of starvation treatment (P<0.05). There was observed significant difference in hepatosomatic index (HSI) and viscerosomatic index (VSI) between different treatments (P<0.05) as the least and the most rate of HSI and VSI was belonged to starved treatment and full feeding, respectively. The results of proximate carcass analysis showed significant difference in moisture between different treatments and fat between starved treatment in comparison with restricted feeding and full feeding (P<0.05). No significant difference in protein and ash contents was observed among the treatments (P>0.05). According to the obtained results, the starvation periods had negative effects on growth performance, carcass chemical composition, liver and visceral indices, so it can be concluded that Russian sturgeon does not compromise the long-term starvation periods and negative effects of starvation increasing with accession of starvation period but the negative effects of restricted feeding was less than starvation and improved feed conversion ratio. There was not observed any mortality using different diets.