Breeding sturgeon at home is an activity that, if properly organized, brings constant tangible income. Although this type of fish is not considered cheap, to create a business on its reproduction for subsequent sale will not require too much investment.
General business information, pros and cons
It is quite possible to breed sturgeons at home, the main thing is to provide all the necessary conditions for this. The sturgeon family includes not only the Siberian and Russian sturgeon proper, but also sterlet, stellate stellate and beluga.
The described species of fish have tasty and healthy meat and caviar. It is not difficult to breed them, and the demand for this fish is always high.
The advantages of the business in the cultivation and sale of sturgeon fish include the following:
- high demand for carcasses and caviar;
- unpretentiousness of the sturgeon to the breeding conditions: this fish easily adapts to changes in temperature, not too demanding on food;
- quality and environmental friendliness of products;
- fast fish growth;
- obtaining not only fish meat, but also caviar, which is valued highly enough;
- quick return on business - it takes about 9 months;
- lack of need to spend a lot of time caring for fish;
- insignificant susceptibility of sturgeons to various diseases.
The disadvantages of this type of entrepreneurial activity include a long period of fish reaching puberty, as well as the frequency of reproduction, which is more than one year.
If an entrepreneur plans to breed sturgeon for caviar, he should consider that this is a long and laborious process. If a fish farming business pays off in 9 months, then sturgeon farming for black caviar will pay off only after a few years.
Business plan
Before you start implementing a business idea, you need to develop a detailed plan that will take into account all expenses and income, as well as determine the profitability of the business and payback period.
Based on the fact that within 9 months a ton of sturgeon will be grown, the cost items will look like this:
- a fish breeding tank: the cost depends on the size and manufacturer, the price may vary between 100,000-500,000 rubles;
- pump - 9,000 rubles;
- purchase of sturgeon fry in the amount of about 1,800 pieces - about 30,000 rubles;
- biofilters - 10 000 rubles;
- oxygen generator - about 20,000 rubles;
- purchase of fish feed (1,500 kg) - 70,000 rubles;
- payment of electricity (up to 30,000 rubles per year);
- various small expenses (50 000 rubles);
- payment of wages to employees, the level of costs depends on their number.
With the proper approach and organization of business payback, you can expect it in the first year from the start. The cycle of growing fry, ending with the receipt of marketable products, takes about 9 months. Net profit after the specified period will be about 250,000-300,000 rubles.
Starting from the second year of sturgeon cultivation, each thousand fry bought and put into the pond will bring up to 200,000 rubles of net profit.
Arrangement of reservoirs for sturgeons
In order to provide the conditions necessary for the life and reproduction of fish, it is necessary to equip the pond properly.
At the initial stage, one tank is enough - a plastic pool, which is quite simple to maintain. If the starting production scale is not too large, then the depth of such a tank can be 1 m, and the diameter can be from 1.5 to 2.5 m.
The pool with sturgeons should be located in rooms with an area of 30 square meters. m. They must necessarily have a heating system, so that in the cold season the fish do not freeze. In addition, the room should have electricity, sewage, water and ventilation.
To ensure active growth of sturgeons, the water temperature in winter should be at least 17 degrees.
A room with sturgeons, which are unstable to stress and external stimuli, should be located in quiet places. There should not be crowded places, railways, highways nearby. You can place a pool with sturgeons in the garage, capital shed, polycarbonate greenhouse.
The arrangement of such an artificial reservoir is considered in this video:
If there is a pond in the summer cottage, then you can organize the process of sturgeon breeding in it. First, thoroughly clean its bottom and provide an influx of fresh water, as well as enrich it with flora. You can also dig a pond yourself.
Algae and various aquatic plants should grow in a natural pond. It is advisable to run snails, plankton, and worms into it.
Necessary equipment
For the proper cultivation and reproduction of sturgeon fish, certain equipment is required. An entrepreneur needs to purchase the following:
- Pump. If fish are raised in the private sector, then a pump will be needed to supply water from the well or well.
- Compressorconstantly saturating water with oxygen. It is recommended to install several of these units at once, so that when one pump fails, another is connected to operation.
- Filtration unit. The equipment cleans contaminated water and allows you to reuse it without harming the fish.
- Heat exchangers and heaters. These elements are necessary to maintain the required temperature. In the summer, they cool the water, in the autumn-winter period they heat it.
- Diesel or gas generator. This element will ensure uninterrupted supply of oxygen and water to the reservoir even if there is no power supply. The generator must be present in the sturgeon farm, as you can not be fully insured against interruptions in the operation of the power grid.
After the acquisition and installation of the necessary equipment, the turn comes to the purchase of sturgeon fry.
When launching fry in a pond, you need to adhere to the following scheme: per 1 square. m accounts for at least 60 kg of live sturgeon.
Features of breeding fry in a home farm
In order for the business of breeding sturgeon species to bring a stable income, it is necessary to provide all the conditions for this.
Fish conditions
For the full life and development of sturgeons, the temperature of the water in which they are located is important. The indicator should not deviate from the indicators of + 18- + 25 degrees.
If the sturgeon fry is launched into a cleaned natural pond, then they do it in the spring, using specialized mixtures for feeding.
It should be borne in mind that the natural decrease in fry, which are bred in artificially created conditions, is up to 30%, which is considered the norm.
In the process of growing individuals reach certain sizes and require special conditions. Fry should be placed in rectangular containers, the depth and width of which is 0.5 m, and the length is about 2 m.
Sturgeons weighing up to 300 g are placed in tanks with a depth of 0.6-0.8 m and a diameter of up to 1.5 m. Sturgeons weighing from 300 g to 2 kg must live in tanks with a depth of 80 cm to 1.2 m , diameter - from 1.5 to 2.2 m.
Sturgeon Nutrition
For the full development of neglected fry, it is necessary to provide them with proper nutrition. The following principles should be adhered to:
- food must go to the bottom, as the sturgeon eats from the bottom;
- the fish chooses food, focusing on the sense of smell, so food for it should have a pleasant smell;
- food for sturgeon fish should be high-calorie so that fry gain weight faster;
- food should be able to swell in water, so that the particles become softer and the fish eat them faster.
The percentage of sturgeon feed is as follows:
- protein - 50%;
- raw fats - up to 25%;
- fiber - 4%.
The remainder is made up of minerals and vitamins, as well as trace elements that contribute to the growth and development of fish.
Adults are fed about 4 times a day, young animals - up to 6 times.
Disease
Representatives of sturgeon fish are susceptible to such diseases:
- adenovirus and iridovirus diseases, as well as diseases caused by herpes virus 1 and 2: they can be triggered by sudden changes in temperature, increased planting density, poor quality water;
- myopathy (muscle stratification): its development is associated with the presence of toxic substances in water;
- saprolengia, a fungal disease that can also affect eggs, develops under poor conditions, injuries, and weakened immunity.
In order for sturgeon fish species to fully develop, it is important to constantly monitor the composition and temperature of the water, ensure regular nutrition, and prevent diseases.
Product Sales
Even before the first batch of products is ready for sale, ways of effective marketing should be carefully considered.
Sturgeon fish is valued by consumers, so you can distribute it in different ways:
- organize your own market outlet and sell fish at retail prices;
- conclude agreements with restaurants and cafes and supply products in the agreed quantities;
- to deliver goods to specialized stores focused on the sale of fish and seafood, as well as to large supermarkets and retail chains.
To attract as many customers as possible, you need to invest in advertising. You can learn about products from the media, as well as the Internet.
You can sell fish not only raw: smoked carcasses are also popular, but in this case you need to have your own smoking shop. As the scale of business develops, this industry can be developed.
In addition to carcasses, you can also sell sturgeon liver: it is a gourmet product, so restaurants and cafes will be happy to purchase it.
It is most profitable to sell black sturgeon caviar, as its price can reach up to 100,000 rubles.
Sturgeon is listed in the Red Book, so its catch in water is prohibited by law. Thus, black caviar is a scarce delicacy. Its sale, like the sale of fish, can only be carried out by representatives of home farms who have all the documentation necessary for carrying out their activities.
Breeding sturgeon in a domestic farm is a profitable business that will allow you to get your first income after 9 months. It is necessary to responsibly approach the organization of the industrial process and ensure favorable conditions for the existence and reproduction of this noble fish.