Optimization of feeding rates for Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus Borodin, 1897)

Determining the optimum feeding rate is one of the important feeding managerial activities in the aquaculture industry. The satiation rate of the sturgeons, especially during the early life stages, is hard to be determined. Thus, in this study we investigated the effects of different feeding rates on Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) after initiation of the exogenous feeding. The study was conducted in eight trials, and allocated five feeding rate treatments (with three replicates) for each trial. The initial body weight in trials 1-8 were 0.039±0.005 to50.060±7.328 g, respectively, and the stocking densities were 12 to 0.25 individuals per liter, respectively. Results showed that in trial 1, food conversion ratio (FCR) was affected significantly, whereas the survival rate and growth performance were not affected by the feeding rates, except the dry weight. In trials2-8, the growth performance and FCR were affected significantly (p<0.05) by the feeding rates, whereas, there were no significant differences amongst the survival rates in trials 5-8. The analyses on the growth performance indicated that the optimum feeding rates of Persian sturgeon larvae and juveniles in trials 1 (0.039-0.097 g), 2 (0.107-0.193 g), 3 (0.211-0.334 g), 4 (0.417-1.944 g), 5 (2.335-6.219 g), 6 (6.950-13.275 g), 7 (14.720-37.350 g), and 8 (50.060-124.050 g) to be 20%, 15%, 9%, 7%, 6%, 3%, 3%, and 2.5% body weight day-1, respectively.