Utilization of Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Meal as a Replacement of Fishmeal in the Diet of Juvenile Siberian Sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)

An 8-week feeding trial evaluated bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus meal (BM) as a fish meal (FM) replacer for juvenile siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii (initial weight, 26.7~27.0 g). Four diets replacing 0% (BM0), 16.5% (BM10), 33.0% (BM20), and 49.5% (BM30) of FM with BM were tested in triplicate. Survival, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed efficiency, and protein efficiency ratio showed no significant differences across treatments (P>0.05). While whole-body moisture and crude protein contents showed minor significant differences among groups (P<0.05), crude lipid and ash contents remained unaffected (P>0.05). These findings indicate that BM can replace up to 49.5% of FM (32.19% of diet) in juvenile siberian sturgeon diets without compromising growth or feed utilization.