External Morphometric Assessment of a 1.5-year-old Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) Population Reared in a Recirculating Aquaculture System
Keywords:
body indices, correlations, sterletAbstract
The sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus), one of the smallest species within the Acipenseridae family, is a freshwater sturgeon of significant ecological and economic value. Its rapid growth rate, early maturation, and high-quality meat are the main factors that have led to the widespread cultivation of this species in numerous fish farms, particularly those practicing intensive rearing in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Rearing sterlet under controlled conditions is also considered a sustainable approach to the conservation of natural populations, as fish farms can provide biological material for restocking programs. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the external morphometric characteristics of a 1.5-year-old sterlet population reared in a recirculating aquaculture system. To achieve this, morphometric measurements were carried out on 30 sterlet specimens of 1.5 years of age, reared exclusively under RAS conditions at the „Pădurea Verde” Fish Farm, part of the Timișoara Didactical Station. The recorded data were statistically processed and used to determine the main body indices describing the population’s conformation, proportionality and condition. In addition, correlations among the principal morphometric traits were analyzed and interpreted. The results revealed a harmonious body development and low variability within the analyzed group, specific to RAS rearing conditions where environmental parameters and feeding are strictly controlled. The results also contribute to a better understanding of the morphometric particularities of sterlet reared under intensive conditions and provide a scientific reference framework for future studies on the growth dynamics of this species.
References
Kottelat, M., Freyhof, J. (2007). Handbook of European Freshwater Fishes. Kottelat, Cornol, Switzerland & Freyhof, Berlin, Germany.
Billard, R., Lecointre, G. (2001). Biology and conservation of sturgeon and paddle fish. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 10, 355–392.
Heidary, S., Imanpour Namin, J., Monsefrad, F. (2012). Bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, and Hg) in muscles and liver of the stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) in the Caspian Sea and their correlation with growth parameters. Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences, 11(2), 325–337.
Grozea, A. (2007). Ciprinicultură. Editura Mirton, Timișoara.
Chebanov, M., Billard, R. (2001). The culture of sturgeons in Russia: production of juveniles for stocking and meat for human consumption. Aquatic Living Resources, 14, 375–381.
Gălan, I. M., Mitroi, C. L., Cugerean, M. I., Hădărugă, N. G. (2024). Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) – chemical composition. Proc. Young People and Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Life Sciences, 41
Furdean, S., Lalescu, D., Mihailov, S. A., Grozea, A. (2017) Growth dynamic of the main morphological traits in a sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) population reared in a recirculating aquaculture system, from 2 to 6 months old, Research Journal of Agricultural Science, 49(4), 128–134.
Moyle, P. B., Cech, J. J. Jr. (2004). Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River.
Bura, M., Szelei, Z.-T. (2009). Research regarding the evolution of corporal masses and feed conversion on sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) juveniles raised in recirculating system. AACL Bioflux, 2(2), 223–228.
Hassaan, M. S., El-Sayed, A., Soltan, M. A., Iraqi, M. M., Goda, A. M., Davies, S. J., Ramadan, H. A. (2019). Partial dietary fish meal replacement with cotton seed meal and supplementation with exogenous protease alters growth, feed performance, haematological indices and associated gene expression markers (GH, IGF-I) for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Aquaculture, 503, 282–292.
Popa, M. D., Savin, V., Simionov, I. A., Lăcătuș, F., Coman, E. I., Oancea, E. C., Dima, F. M., Patriche, N., Iticescu, C. (2023). The influence of rearing conditions on growth, meat quality and mortality of Acipenser ruthenus. Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, LXVI (1), 621–630.
Ak, K., Kurtoğlu, İ. Z., Serezli, R., Kayış, S., Yandi, İ. (2019). Introduce the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) to Turkish aquaculture industry: duoculture possibility with rainbow trout. Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 36(3), 211–217.
Mihailov, S., Mihoc, N., Lalescu, D., Grozea, A. (2017). Polyculture of the pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) fingerlings in recirculating aquaculture system with sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) or European catfish (Silurus glanis). Research Journal of Agricultural Science, 49(4), 193–198.
Mihailov, S., Mihoc, N., Simiz, E., Berzava, L., Czister, L., Grozea, A. (2020). The polyculture of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) and carp (Cyprinus carpio) in recirculating aquaculture systems: the effects on fish growth dynamic and production. Scientific Papers: Animal Science and Biotechnologies, 53(2), 250-256.
Mihailov, S., Grozea, A. (2021). Policultura unor specii de pești în cadrul sistemelor recirculante de acvacultură. Editura Eurobit, Timișoara. ISBN 978-973-132-715-0.
Mihoc, N., Mihailov, S., Lalescu, D., Grozea, A. (2021). Study on the effects of polyculture of the sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) fingerlings and European catfish (Silurus glanis) on bioproductive performances of these species in recirculating aquaculture systems. Scientific Papers: Animal Science and Biotechnologies, 54(1), 197-203.
Saraiva, J. L. (2020). Acipenser ruthenus (Short Profile). In: FishEthoBase, Fish Ethology and Welfare Group, Version 1.39. Available at: www.fishethobase.net. Accessed: 12 May 2026.
Prokeš, M., Baruš, V., Mareš, J., Peňáz, M., Baránek, V. (2011). Growth of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) under experimental and farm conditions of the Czech Republic, with remarks on other sturgeons. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 59, 281–290. doi:10.11118/actaun201159060281.
Akbulut, B., Feledi, T., Lengyel, S., Ronyai, A. (2013). Effect of feeding rate on growth performance, food utilization and meat yield of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus Linnaeus, 1758). Journal of Fisheries Sciences.com, 7(3), 216–224.
Nikolova, L. N. (2013). Impact of some technological factors on the growth of carp fish (Cyprinidae) reared in autochthonous polyculture. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 19(6), 1391–1395.
Kirpichnikov, V. S. (1979). Genetic Bases of Fish Selection. Nauka Publishing House, Leningrad.
Kapusta, A., Partyka, K., Szczepkowska, B., Jarmołowicz, S., Hopko, M., Piotrowska, I., Kowalska, A., Zakęś, Z. (2013). Impact of diet and culture conditions on the body shape of crucian carp (Carassius carassius L.). Journal of Applied Animal Research, 41(4), 462–469.
Grozea, A. (2002). Acvacultură – curs. Editura Excelsior Art, Timișoara.
Fernandes, I. M., Bastos, Y. F., Barreto, D. S., Lourenço, L. S., Penha, J. M. (2017). The efficacy of clove oil as an anaesthetic and in euthanasia procedure for small-sized tropical fishes. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 77(3), 444–450. doi:10.1590/1519-6984.15015.
Bura, M., Grozea, A., Cornea, I., Gergen, I. (1995). Creşterea crapului în iazuri şi heleştee, Ed. Mirton. Timişoara
Bura, M., Grozea, A. (1997). Îndrumător de lucrări practice la Acvacultură, Lito USAMVB, Timișoara.
Shivaramu, S., Lebeda, I., Kašpar, V., & Flajšhans, M. (2020). Intraspecific Hybrids Versus Purebred: A Study of Hatchery-Reared Populations of Sterlet Acipenser ruthenus. Animals, 10(7), 1149. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071149
Margaritova, B. K., & Uzunova, E. P. (2020). Length–weight relationships and condition factors of three sturgeon species (Acipenseridae) from the Danube River. Ecologia Balkanica, 12(2), 197–201
Ginayatov, N., Shukurov, M., Shumeyko, D., Sariyev, B., Arystangalieva, V., Abdessan, R., Brigida, A., Albekov, A., & Bexultan, A. (2026). Effect of different oxygen concentrations and stocking density on the growth and development of Acipenser ruthenus in a recirculating aquaculture system. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Biology, e2025257. https://doi.org/10.35495/ajab.2025.257
