Survival and growth of larval and juvenile Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) using formulated diets and live food

The suitability of formulated diets for feeding Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus larvae, compared with live food, was studied at the International Sturgeon Research Institute, Iran. Growth and survival rates of A. persicus larvae obtained from the same female breeder were studied through a period of 40 days. The larvae were fed three formulated diets (three replicates each), without the weaning period, and one control diet (live Daphnia). The initial weight of larvae was 0.122 +/- 0.017 g (mean +/- SD), and the final weights of juveniles were 0.82 +/- 0.21 g in the control and ranged from 1.40 +/- 0.25g to 1.67 +/- 0.22g and 1.14 +/- 0.19g in treatments with formulated diets A, B, and C, repsectively. Feeding formulated diets significantly enhanced growth of larvae, but survival at 40 days was lower in treatment groups, compared with control. Overall, the results of feeding trial indicated the high potential of the prepared diets for hatchery rearing of the Persian sturgeon juveniles.