Evaluation of Dietary Carbohydrate Sources Utilization in Juvenile Sterlet Sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus)

This study evaluated dietary carbohydrate utilization in juvenile sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) by testing five diets containing different carbohydrate sources at 22.5%: wheat meal, α-corn starch, dextrin, maltose, and glucose. After an 8-week feeding trial, fish fed maltose and glucose exhibited significantly higher weight gain, specific growth rate, feed efficiency, and protein efficiency ratio compared to the polysaccharide groups (P<0.05). The hepatosomatic index and whole-body crude lipid content were also significantly elevated in the simple sugar groups (P<0.05), indicating efficient conversion of maltose and glucose into lipids. Conversely, the glucose group showed a remarkably higher accumulation of free β-alanine and β-amino-iso-butyric acid (P<0.05). In conclusion, juvenile sterlet sturgeon utilize simple sugars (maltose and glucose) far more efficiently than complex polysaccharides (starch and dextrin), providing essential raw material selection criteria for reducing feed costs in commercial sturgeon aquaculture.