Communications: Feeding Trials with Juvenile Atlantic Sturgeons Propagated from Wild Broodstock

Juvenile Atlantic sturgeons Acipenser oxyrinchus produced by hormone-induced spawning of wild broodstock from the Hudson River, New York, were used in a diet study. Fish fed live Artemia sp. as first-feeding fry for 35 d were observed to convert readily to formulated diets. At 79 d posthatch, four formulated feeds were offered: sturgeon starter 9304, Biokyowa, Zeigler esocid diet, and Tunison sturgeon starter. At the end of 60 d, fish fed Biokyowa had the greatest growth and best feed conversion (P ≤ 0.05). Feed conversions were significantly different between all treatments, indicating wide variability in growth response to the diets tested. Proximate analyses of diets showed Biokyowa highest in protein (59.43%) and dry matter (97.28%).