Do I need to feed my sturgeon in the winter?

Yes. Unlike koi and goldfish, sturgeon do not go into full hibernation and will continue to forage in winter, though their metabolism slows. You must feed them a specialized winter sturgeon pellet to prevent starvation, especially since other pond fish won't be eating.

Why is blanket weed so dangerous for sturgeon?

Sturgeon cannot swim backwards. If they swim into a dense patch of blanket weed or filamentous algae, they cannot reverse out of it. They become trapped, panic, and quickly suffocate as water stops flowing over their gills.

Can I keep a Russian Sturgeon in a 5,000-litre pond?

No, a 5,000-litre pond is far too small. While they are often sold small, they grow rapidly and require vast swimming space. A minimum of 15,000 litres is recommended, though larger is always better for adult specimens.

Are regular pond treatments safe for my sturgeon?

Many common pond treatments are highly toxic to sturgeon, particularly those containing copper sulfate, formalin, or potassium permanganate. Always ensure any medication you use explicitly states it is safe for sturgeon.

Why is my sturgeon swimming with its head out of the water?

This is almost always a sign of severe hypoxia (lack of oxygen) or poor water quality. Sturgeon have incredibly high oxygen demands; you should immediately increase aeration and check your water parameters.

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Russian Sturgeon

Acipenser gueldenstaedtii

The Russian Sturgeon, often sold as the Diamond Sturgeon, is a prehistoric-looking leviathan suited only for exceptionally large, highly oxygenated ponds.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 4 – 20 °C
pH range: 7 – 8
Hardness: 8 – 15 dGH
Adult size: 120 – 200 cm
15,000L+: 15,000 litres+
Lifespan: 30 – 50 years
Diet: Carnivore
Water flow: High
Preferred setup: Vast pond with smooth liner, minimal to no blanket weed, and highly oxygenated water.

About the Russian Sturgeon

Boasting a lineage that dates back to the time of the dinosaurs, the Russian Sturgeon is highly sought after by pond enthusiasts for its striking, diamond-shaped scutes and shark-like profile. In the wild, they are anadromous, migrating between marine environments and freshwater rivers to spawn. In the garden pond, they remain entirely in freshwater, perpetually cruising the bottom on a tireless search for food. These are true monster fish, routinely exceeding 1.2 metres in captivity and requiring colossal volumes of water to thrive. Due to their enormous potential size and specific environmental needs, they represent a significant long-term commitment.

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Is it right for your tank?

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Where Russian Sturgeon comes from

Native range

Caspian Sea basin, Black Sea basin, Sea of Azov basin

Countries / regions

Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Romania, Iran

Habitat

Coastal marine waters, estuaries, and large, deep river systems during spawning migrations.

Wild populations are Critically Endangered due to overfishing for caviar and damming of spawning rivers.

Similar species

Sterlet
Acipenser ruthenus
Siberian Sturgeon
Acipenser baerii
Beluga Sturgeon
Huso huso

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Koi
Cyprinus rubrofuscus
Koi are fast and greedy feeders that will readily steal sinking sturgeon pellets; targeted feeding is required to ensure the sturgeon does not starve.
Compatible with caution
Tench
Tinca tinca
Peaceful, robust pond fish that share similar water requirements and generally do not outcompete sturgeon as aggressively as carp.
Great
Common Goldfish
Carassius auratus
Safe from a temperament perspective, but very small goldfish may be accidentally ingested by a fully grown sturgeon.
Compatible with caution
Common Pleco
Hypostomus plecostomus
Plecos are tropical fish unsuited to ponds, and have been known to attach themselves to the slime coat of slow-moving bottom dwellers like sturgeon.
Not recommended

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