Lake sturgeon

Quick facts

Adult size

150 cm, 25000 g typical harvest weight

Days to harvest

1825 to 3650 days from fingerling

Lifespan (max)

up to 100 years

Diet

carnivore

Temperature class

cold-water

Difficulty

advanced

Water parameters

Temperature range

4–22°C (optimum 16°C)

pH

6.5 to 8

Hardness

5 to 25 dGH

Minimum tank

5000 L per individual at harvest size

Feed and growth

Feed protein

45% target

Daily feed (warm water)

0.80% of body weight per day

Daily feed (cool water)

0.40% of body weight per day

Max stocking density

30 g per litre of system water

A 25000g adult eats about 200.0 g of feed per day at optimum temperature. For a roster of 10 fish at adult size, that's around 2000 g of feed daily.

Legality

Aquaculture and possession rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. This table reflects regulations as of the verified date on each row. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.

Jurisdictions not listed here default to "check local regulations". A non-listing is not a green light; rules in your specific county or municipality may apply.

Habitat and origin

Native to large rivers and lakes across central and eastern North America, from the Great Lakes and Hudson Bay drainage south through the Mississippi basin to Alabama. The species (Acipenser fulvescens) is the largest freshwater fish in North America by weight, reaching 2 m and over 100 kg, with a lifespan exceeding 100 years. Lake sturgeon are ancient fish (the family Acipenseridae has existed for over 200 million years) with a shark-like body shape, bony scutes instead of scales, and a vacuum-like ventral mouth adapted for bottom-feeding on invertebrates. Wild populations have been severely depleted by overfishing, dam construction, and habitat loss; the species is listed as threatened or endangered in most of its range. Aquaculture interest focuses on caviar production, as sturgeon roe is the most valuable aquaculture product in the world.

Climate and outdoor ponds

Climate classification

cold-water (cool water required, dies in heat)

Outdoor pond zones (USDA)

2 to 7 (winter low around -46°C or warmer)

Heating in a temperate climate

Not required (handles seasonal cool periods)

Cooling in a temperate climate

Required if your summer water temperatures exceed the upper tolerance

Zone bounds reflect year-round outdoor pond viability with no active heating. Anywhere outside the bounded zone, the species can still be kept in an indoor heated tank or a seasonally-managed system. Verify your specific microclimate, as a sheltered yard zone can run a half-zone warmer than the regional rating.

Care notes

A specialty species for large-scale, long-term aquaculture operations, not suited to typical aquaponics. Lake sturgeon grow slowly: they reach sexual maturity at 15-25 years for females (which is when they produce roe for caviar) and 8-15 years for males. Growing a fish for two decades before it produces its primary product is not practical for home or small-scale systems. For meat production, younger fish can be harvested at 3–5 kg (4-6 years old), but even this timeline far exceeds what most aquaponics operators are willing to manage. Temperature range: 10–24°C, optimal at 16–20°C. Dissolved oxygen above 5 mg/L. Feed: sinking pellet (40-45% protein), supplemented with live or frozen invertebrates for juvenile fish. FCR is approximately 1.5-2.5. Stocking density: 10-20 g/L for juveniles, lower for adults. Lake sturgeon are protected in many states and require special permits for culture. Fingerlings are available from a few hatcheries associated with conservation restocking programs. The economics of sturgeon aquaculture work only at commercial scale with a 15-25 year business plan focused on caviar ($500-2000/kg for domestic sturgeon caviar). Not recommended for aquaponics.

Further reading

• Aquaponics water chemistry: balancing pH for fish and plants
• Fish for aquaponics: tilapia vs everything else