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%).