Worried about Diamon Stugeon

21 years ago

Hi there, this is my first post having found and read the forum intensly yesterday.

Last week I bought 2 young diamond sturgeon for my medium size pond, Today at a large aquatic centre I noticed they were also selling the same fish but with a warning saying they have special feed requirements, but I couldn't get any help while I was at the centre (Bank Holiday Monday) so now I am worried, in the shop theu were popping their heads out of the water and they looked so sweet, on www.sturgeon-web.co.uk they said that they are starving.

I have just started my pond following a fish transplant to a friend while I filled in cracks etc following the winter.

All the fish old and new all seem very happy, but I don't want my new arrivals to starve. There is not much vegitation (1 new lilly) and the pond is freshly clean which is how I would like it.

I do have a small water full and an air pump to keep the fish amused.

Gosh I'm sorry to write such a long first message, so please treat this as my hello introduction, and also my question.

Cheers

Paul

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Comments (16)

awblessmesturgeon
21 years ago
hi pk and welcolm! sturgeon are funny fish its why we like them? they will nosey out of the water - they're picking bugs off the algea. if they exibit similar behavior mid pond its oxygen. sturgeon have a need for highly oxygenated water if you dont have an air pump? get one. cheaper than two dead sturgeon? and will do the rest of the fish loads of good. as to food requirements? they are carnivours so high protien sinking food placed where they frequent (i find after dark is best or the other fish nick it) also regular supply of bloodworms - they love em! also like prawn if yo can afford it lol hope that helps? ps dont forget the air pump o/ jo (how bigs the pond)
awblessmesturgeon
21 years ago
should have said - sturgeon are rubbish at blanket weed! they tangle and drown if you have it remove it jo o/
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PKingham
Original Author
21 years ago
Thanks for the tips, The pond is roughly 500 Gallons/2273Ltr I have a blagdon P3000 pump coming about 1m out of the water to a UV Filter and bio-filter, and small waterfall. I also have a bladgon pond 1 airpump and stone so the fish should be happy.

One Sturgeon likes to swim around the bottom, the other like to lap the sides over and over.

I'll get some blood worms as a treat :)
Sean_McKinney
21 years ago
http://www.sturgeon-web.co.uk/
PKingham
Original Author
21 years ago
Thanks Sean, as I mentioned in my first message, this is the website that got me worried in the first place. Just wish they would expand it a bit.
Sean_McKinney
21 years ago
oops missed that sorry
Sean_McKinney
21 years ago
Whoops missed that, sorry
mark22
21 years ago
I think the main point with sturgeon is they grow fast so need a good supply of high protein (40% +) sinking food. They can be trained to swim in loops and eat from the surface but other fish will easily get all that food before they do. Also they feed in colder water temperatures as well so need feeding ealier in spring and later in autumn. (When the water is above 5c I think.)

Also because you will be adding a lot more ammonia into the water, from the high protein food waste, you may want to think about whether your biofiltration is big enough. They grow very big quickly. Hopefully not too big for your pond.

Lastly as said above they get stuck in blanketweed, especially if they are small and not at full strength. Blanket weed around a pump for example sucking them in can easily drown them so keep an eye on that.

I know it sounds a lot but it's not that bad, just prepare for them getting bigger and then you can enjoy them. They look great, especally them albino ones.

One last thing, the website you mentioned does sell appropriate sturgeon food and the guy on it clearly knows his business. I first learnt about them their a few years ago when we had one die. Looking on there it says the fisheriy is in west sussex so maybe you could pay it a visit to get your food and learn some more. Would make an interesting trip I bet.
alison_froglady
21 years ago
I fed mine pellets that sunk to the bottom.They lived fine. I think it is maybe because they come from very cold waters (places like Russia) so are active in the winter more, whereas we normally stop feeding the other fish because they become more dorment in the winter. At the moment they will be fine with sinking pellets as all the fish are feeding at the moment.
Another thing that you really need to watch is when the weather gets hot (fat chance of that !!) I lost my sturgeon due to the heatwave, but there was nothing I could have done. I went to my local shop where I had bought them and nearly all their fish had died overnight as well. I didn't feel so bad when I heard that except for the fish of course.
When it does get really hot you will need to try to cool the water down. I used to put the hosepipe up in the air and let it fall from a distance in the water. I have good water and don't have to dechlore but most people put declorinated water in.
Another thing you need to be aware of ( I feel like the grim reaper here.lol.) is that Magpies like to take the diamondbacks. I caught one taking it and managed to get it off the magpie as he dropped it out of his beak but a few weeks later it disappeared all together so I guess the magpie got his dinner after all. It would all depend on the size of the fish really.
I really hope you have a lot of fun watching them. My little grandchildren call them sharks. They love them.
Alison
PKingham
Original Author
21 years ago
Terrible news I'm afraid :(
Last night I returned home from work and both my sturgeon where belly up on the floor of the pond. Having owned them for 3 days I am a little perplexed as to why they died.

I hope I didn't starve them, there was definatley some pellet food on the bottom, they did swim around the outside edge, as did the ones in the shop which first attracted me to them. They also had an air pump so I am a little flumuxed. I think I will get more information from Sturgeon-web before I consider getting some. I am very sad and feel the pet shop has let me down by not informing me of proper care. Quick Â£25 for the I guess.

Sad news indeed, but thankyou everyone for your advice.
chris11
21 years ago
Test your water for ammonia,nitrite and ph, one of these could be the killer. You say in your first post that you had been filling in cracks in your pond, was this with mortar/cement and if so did you seal the repairs? Did you dechlorinate the water you refilled with? Just some thoughts on why they could of died.
Chris.
PKingham
Original Author
21 years ago
Chris I agree with you totally, I am now on a mission to see if there is anything wrong with the water. The pond cracks were sealed with 'Pond Seal' bought from my local pet shop, I have a cement pond and it was just a case of sealing cracks that appeared over winter, the water loss was minimal but as I had a friend with a pond he'd been running empty since last year it gave the the opportunity to give the fish a holiday, and give my pond a complete overhaul. I ordered a full water test kit yesterday (and also a bio-boost for the filter which should be waiting for me at home today.

I did buy 10 baby goldfish as a check before I re-introduced my koi and they are very happy, very active and eating my watter lilly's roots like crazy (it needs repotting so Im not too bothered)

But I will certainly be following your advice. I will post the result here so if I did make a mistake maybe others can learn from it.

Paul
mark22
21 years ago
The sturgeon was probably underfed and too small to start with maybe. Also they are more sensitive to pond treatments than other fish. It got quite hot here yesterday and I guess it did there too, that could have pushed them over the edge.

As chris said test the water, it could be a pH change and if you've only just started up the biofilter again it could be ammonia or nitrites but I would have thought the other fish would have shown signs of stress.

Good luck. Mark
alison_froglady
21 years ago
Paul That is awful. There should have been no reason for the fish to have died so soon. I would be inclined if you find the water quality etc fine to go and ask for your money back, there could have been something wrong with the fish before you bought them. I would find out if any at the shop have died.
Alison
fishmaduk
21 years ago
hi
paul.
welcome to the forum theres some great people on here who always sharing there fishy problems,thoughts,projects,and most of all friendship.

sorry 2 here about your stugeon differcult fish 2 keep starving is 1 of the biggest problems u don,t know if they may have been on the way when u bought them?.

if the water proves ok then if the shop owner is a good shop owner he/she may give u your money back.
but (screaming lord such(raving loony party) was more likely to get the key,s 2 no:10) or is a clown in there already!!!!!!!!!.
OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES ARE AVAILIBLE.

good luck with your plite.

---------david----------fishmaduk--------------------
awblessmesturgeon
21 years ago
sorry to hear of your loss, we did have thunderstorms in many areas this week - these deplete oxygen from the pond and as both went together (bless em) i'd be suprised if it was a food issue. either oxygen, water quality or are you using any meds? sturgeon are damaged by pond medicines other fish tolerate easily? as mark (i think) said the guy from sturgeonweb (graham) DOES know his stuff. again sorry about the loss. jo o/

Worried about Diamon Stugeon

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