Nikolay N. Popov 1,2, Gulshat G. Zhumatova 1, Vitaly V. Barabanov 1, Gulbarshyn K. Shambilova 1, Sofiya Z. Sagyndykova 1, Aiman К. Nurgaliyeva 1, Nazerke T. Zamzamova 1, Akhat I. Nimatov 1, Nurgul M. Jussupbekova 3 and Bekzhan I. Barbol 4,*
1Department of Biology and Fisheries, Kh. Dosmukhamedov Atyrau University, Atyrau 060000, Kazakhstan; 2Department of Marine Biology, «Kazekoproekt» LLP, 123 Klochkova St., Almaty 050057, Kazakhstan; 3Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, 050060 Almaty, Kazakhstan; 4Group of Educational Programs “Forestry and Environment”, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University, 010011, Astana, Kazakhstan
*Corresponding author: bekzhan.barbol@gmail.com, sofiazul@mail.ru
This study presents a comparative statistical analysis of growth performance in juvenile Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) reared under different dietary treatments in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). Experimental feeds included a control diet with 100% krill meal and an experimental diet in which 25% of the krill meal was replaced with big-scale sand smelt meal. The 120-day experiment evaluated final body weight, specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival rate, and biochemical composition. We used two-way ANOVA (diet × time) and Tukey’s post hoc test to assess treatment effects. Results showed significant improvements in final weight (160.4 ± 25.9 g vs 154.6 ± 25.3 g, p = 0.032), survival rate (87.8 ± 1.8% vs 84.4 ± 2.1%, p = 0.041), and FCR (1.31 ± 0.08 vs 1.39 ± 0.07, p = 0.028) in the experimental group. Biochemical parameters did not differ significantly. The findings show that partially replacing krill meal with large-scale sand smelt meal improves growth performance and feed efficiency without compromising fish health, supporting the use of local raw materials in sturgeon aquaculture.