Last week I bought 2 young diamond sturgeon for my medium size pond, Today at a large aquatic centre I noticed they were also selling the same fish but with a warning saying they have special feed requirements, but I couldn't get any help while I was at the centre (Bank Holiday Monday) so now I am worried, in the shop theu were popping their heads out of the water and they looked so sweet, on www.sturgeon-web.co.uk they said that they are starving.

I have just started my pond following a fish transplant to a friend while I filled in cracks etc following the winter.

All the fish old and new all seem very happy, but I don't want my new arrivals to starve. There is not much vegitation (1 new lilly) and the pond is freshly clean which is how I would like it.

I do have a small water full and an air pump to keep the fish amused.

Gosh I'm sorry to write such a long first message, so please treat this as my hello introduction, and also my question.

Cheers
Paul

One Sturgeon likes to swim around the bottom, the other like to lap the sides over and over.

I'll get some blood worms as a treat :)

Also because you will be adding a lot more ammonia into the water, from the high protein food waste, you may want to think about whether your biofiltration is big enough. They grow very big quickly. Hopefully not too big for your pond.

Lastly as said above they get stuck in blanketweed, especially if they are small and not at full strength. Blanket weed around a pump for example sucking them in can easily drown them so keep an eye on that.

I know it sounds a lot but it's not that bad, just prepare for them getting bigger and then you can enjoy them. They look great, especally them albino ones.

One last thing, the website you mentioned does sell appropriate sturgeon food and the guy on it clearly knows his business. I first learnt about them their a few years ago when we had one die. Looking on there it says the fisheriy is in west sussex so maybe you could pay it a visit to get your food and learn some more. Would make an interesting trip I bet.

I hope I didn't starve them, there was definatley some pellet food on the bottom, they did swim around the outside edge, as did the ones in the shop which first attracted me to them. They also had an air pump so I am a little flumuxed. I think I will get more information from Sturgeon-web before I consider getting some. I am very sad and feel the pet shop has let me down by not informing me of proper care. Quick £25 for the I guess.

Sad news indeed, but thankyou everyone for your advice.

I did buy 10 baby goldfish as a check before I re-introduced my koi and they are very happy, very active and eating my watter lilly's roots like crazy (it needs repotting so Im not too bothered)

But I will certainly be following your advice. I will post the result here so if I did make a mistake maybe others can learn from it.

Paul

As chris said test the water, it could be a pH change and if you've only just started up the biofilter again it could be ammonia or nitrites but I would have thought the other fish would have shown signs of stress.

Good luck. Mark

sorry 2 here about your stugeon differcult fish 2 keep starving is 1 of the biggest problems u don,t know if they may have been on the way when u bought them?.

if the water proves ok then if the shop owner is a good shop owner he/she may give u your money back.
but (screaming lord such(raving loony party) was more likely to get the key,s 2 no:10) or is a clown in there already!!!!!!!!!.
OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES ARE AVAILIBLE.

good luck with your plite.

---------david----------fishmaduk--------------------