Renewal of voluntary feeding by wild‐caught Atlantic sturgeon juveniles in captivity

A modification of previously documented force‐feeding procedures resulted in the renewal of appetite by several wild‐caught juvenile Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus. Four of four fish under controlled laboratory conditions responded positively to this technique within 1 month. These fish exhibited negative mean growth rates of −2.71 g/d before force‐feeding and gained an average of 2.61 g/d at 285 d after initiation of force‐feeding. Mean lengths, weights, and coefficients of condition (K) also increased after force‐feeding. This method may be useful in other situations in which the holding of juveniles or adults is necessary, such as in zoos and public aquaria.