Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Sterlet
Acipenser ruthenus
Also called Sterlet sturgeon, Huso ruthenus
From Native to Eurasia: large rivers draining into the Black, Azov and Caspian Seas, and Siberian rivers east to the Yenisei. Widely moved around Europe for fish farming and ornamental ponds.123
A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Scaleless sturgeon body with bony scutes
A slim, shark-like fish with a long, narrow, slightly upturned snout and fringed barbels in front of the mouth. Instead of scales it carries five rows of bony plates, with many small pale plates running along each flank. The back is dark grey to brown and the belly yellowish to white.23
Personality what they are like
A peaceful bottom dweller that spends its time gliding over the floor of the pond, searching for food with its barbels rather than competing at the surface.124
Daily activity how busy a day looks
A river fish that lives in current and deep water in the wild, so it appreciates plenty of open swimming room along the bottom.1
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Needs a large pond with consistently good water quality and a diet made for sturgeons, since it does not use ordinary fish-food proteins well.2
Home where they are happiest
Best kept in a large, roomy pond with clean water and open bottom space. In the wild it overwinters resting in deep holes and becomes much more active in spring.12
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Feeds on the bottom. Wild sterlets eat worms, insect larvae, small crustaceans and snails; in ponds it should get sinking food made specifically for sturgeons.23
Company who they like around
Gathers in groups when overwintering in the wild and lives peacefully alongside other pond fish.1
The story where it all began
The sterlet has long been fished and farmed in Russia, where it is raised for its caviar. Because it is one of the smaller sturgeons, it became the species most often chosen for garden ponds across Europe.23
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Sturgeons have no true scales; their bodies are armoured with rows of bony plates called scutes.4
- 2
A single sterlet female can lay tens of thousands of eggs, typically when the water is around 12 to 17 °C.2
- 3
Sturgeon ancestors go back to the Early Jurassic, which is why the group is often called a living fossil.4
- 4
Sturgeons find food with their barbels and with electrosensing pores on the head, then suck it up with a toothless, extendable mouth.4
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Wild populations assessed as Endangered; most animals in international trade today come from aquaculture.2
- CITES
- Listed on CITES Appendix II (also CMS Appendix II), so international trade is regulated.1
- Taxonomy
- Traditionally Acipenser ruthenus; Wikipedia now files it under Huso ruthenus following a 2025 revision of sturgeon genera.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Sterlet. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingOnly in the warm seasonevery day
- Pond checkevery day
- Water testevery 2 weeks
- Filter cleanevery month
Owner questions the things everyone asks
How often should I feed my Sterlet?
Feed your sterlet once daily during the warm season. In colder months, they become less active and may not need food. Always use sinking sturgeon-specific pellets, as ordinary fish food is not suitable for them.2 Furry Diary plan
What does a Sterlet eat, and what should it never eat?
Sterlets eat sinking sturgeon pellets or granules, which are specially formulated for their needs. In the wild they feed on worms, insect larvae, and small crustaceans. Never give them ordinary fish food because they cannot digest those proteins properly.23
How much space does a Sterlet need?
A sterlet needs a large, roomy pond with plenty of open bottom space to swim. The exact size depends on the number of fish, but a spacious pond is essential for their well-being.12
What temperature, light or water does a Sterlet need?
Sterlets need clean, well-oxygenated pond water. They are cold-water fish and can overwinter in deep holes. For specific temperature and light needs, consult a vet or experienced breeder.12
How often should I clean a Sterlet's home?
Check the pond daily for cleanliness, test water quality every two weeks, and clean the filter monthly. This routine keeps the water healthy for your sterlet. Furry Diary plan
Can a Sterlet live with others?
Yes, sterlets are peaceful and can live with other pond fish. They are bottom dwellers and get along well with community species.1
How long does a Sterlet live?
Sterlets can live a long time, typically between 22 and 36 years with proper care. They are a long-term commitment.12
Can I handle a Sterlet?
Sterlets are not meant to be handled; they have delicate skin and bony plates. It is best to observe them in the pond and avoid touching them.2
Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Furry Diary's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- FishBase: Acipenser ruthenus fishbase.seused for range, size, max weight, max age, habitat, behaviour, CITES
- Wikipedia: Sterlet en.wikipedia.orgused for size, lifespan, appearance, diet, pond care, history, status
- Wikipedia (de): Sterlet de.wikipedia.orgused for size, colouration, diet, caviar farming
- Wikipedia: Sturgeon en.wikipedia.orgused for general sturgeon anatomy, feeding and fossil history
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog vcahospitals.comused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Dog grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Cat grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets aspca.orgused for owner questions
- RSPCA: What to feed your rabbit rspca.org.ukused for owner questions
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.