We’ll tell you in detail about a business idea that aspiring entrepreneurs can implement – growing sterlet at home. To create such a business, you will need certain skills and special equipment. A well-thought-out business plan greatly simplifies the implementation of the entire process and does not take a large amount of money and effort.
About business
Sterlet is an exquisite fish delicacy. The fish of the sturgeon family reaches a length of 65 centimeters. The weight of large individuals reaches 10 kilograms.There is also a larger sterlet, but it is quite rare. Large fish are mainly found in the seas and oceans.
The number of sterlet in the world is decreasing, therefore, in order to increase the population and prevent its extinction as a species, active cultivation of this fish has begun on an industrial scale and at home. Some people breed fish at home for personal use, while others breed sterlet for subsequent sale, considering the idea as a profitable business.
Features of home breeding
One of the main concerns of farmers is when the fish will grow and begin to generate income. To do this, you need to understand how the process of growth of fry occurs. Often when growing sturgeon, fry weighing about 5 grams are used. All individuals develop in their own way - it depends on where they are raised and what they are fed. After six months, part of the sterlet can reach 500 grams, the other part will have less weight, but over time it can catch up and even “overtake” its larger brothers in weight.
When some of the sterlet has already grown, fish of smaller size and weight need some time to grow. So, after 1.5 months, medium-sized fish will grow up, and then smaller individuals will join them. As soon as 9 months have passed since the start of growing the first load, further growth of fish will stop. If growing is going well, it makes sense to add a few more tanks to expand the farm.
Specimens weighing more than 500 grams are in demand on the market. Owners of supermarkets and restaurants are happy to buy such fish. In Russia, this type of fish is not consumed very much, but since there is almost no sterlet on the market, it quickly flies off store shelves and is popular on restaurant menus.That is why the business associated with sturgeon breeding is considered very profitable.
How to prepare
Breeding sterlet at home seems like a simple task, but it has a number of disadvantages, such as limited space, the need to maintain an optimal microclimate, and others. It is much more expedient to breed sturgeon in a pond. In any case, the farmer will need to acquire special equipment and select suitable feed.
Equipment selection
To create comfortable conditions for sterlet in the pool, compressors, aerators and filters are needed. You will also need pumping equipment to regularly clean the pool. To make growing sterlet easier, it is recommended to use an automatic feeder. It is advisable to choose the right compressor and pump - preference should be given to powerful units that will serve the owner longer than weak models.
To breed sturgeon at home, you will need the following devices:
- pump;
- filter for water purification;
- compressor;
- automatic feeders.
When purchasing technical devices, it is necessary to make power calculations so that the equipment can effectively cope with the assigned tasks. If you plan to breed sterlet in closed reservoirs, you will also need additional equipment to automate the process. To grow sterlet in RAS - closed water supply installations, you will need the following equipment:
- UV lamps - to disinfect the reservoir.
- Round or rectangular pools (portable units to expand the breeding area if necessary).
- Thermostat.
- A generator to enrich the reservoir with oxygen.
- Pumps - to circulate water.
- Pressure Sensors.
- Compressor.
- Filters.
It is necessary to use the correct container for growing sterlet depending on their weight. Thus, a plastic or wooden pool 1.5-1.7 meters in diameter is suitable for hatching sterlet weighing up to three hundred grams. To grow individuals up to two kilograms, use a container up to 2.2 meters in diameter and more than one meter deep. For breeding eggs and raising fry, special trays measuring 220 by 50 centimeters are used.
If sterlet is grown in a natural reservoir, it is necessary to check whether the biological conditions of the reservoir correspond to the natural conditions in which sterlet lives in the wild. It is recommended to fence off the area for creating fish nurseries and also regularly clean the bottom of mud and debris. This will help maintain cleanliness and conditions consistent with the sterlet's natural habitat.
What food to use
Entrepreneurs simplify their task when breeding sterlet by choosing the right food. Sterlet mainly eats food at the bottom, so the farmer needs to pay attention to food that sinks well and has a pleasant, bright aroma, since fish usually find it by smell. In addition, it is desirable that the food does not break or crumble when it gets into the water. This is important for the sterlet because it gradually eats the food rather than swallowing it all at once. Good fish food will be soft, tasty and high in calories. Here is an approximate composition of the nutritional mixture:
- protein;
- cellulose;
- fats;
- phosphorus;
- lysine.
Thanks to such nutritional conditions, the fish not only grows well, but is also less susceptible to diseases.
Selecting a location
Sterlet grows in any conditions, but you need to follow some recommendations.When growing fish in a private home, sterlet provides a spacious room with an area of at least 30 square meters and good thermal insulation, especially in winter.
In winter, for normal growth and development of sterlet, it is necessary to maintain a temperature of no lower than 17 degrees Celsius, and in summer no lower than 20 degrees Celsius. Polycarbonate greenhouses with a plastic pool are suitable for growing sterlet.
When beginning farmers have enough funds, it is recommended to purchase specialized equipment from the manufacturer. In this case, after installation, you can immediately start using it, since all the necessary components will already be included in it.
If your budget is limited, you can create the necessary equipment yourself. A plastic pool with a diameter of 2-3 meters is suitable for this, in which about a ton of sturgeon will grow in a calendar year.
Is it possible to breed sterlet in a pond?
To grow sterlet in an open area, you need to prepare a pond. The improvement of such a pond requires more serious measures than for an indoor pool. Typically, failure to follow instructions will result in the death of fish in the pond.
Initially, it is necessary to properly process the bottom of the pond so that it is completely level. To do this, it is recommended to get rid of holes and low areas. Otherwise, the water will gradually stagnate, swamping the pond.
Next, the area around the reservoir is cleaned - bushes, branches and trees are removed from the shore. Plants are pulled out by their roots. Otherwise, the presence of a root system will lead to overgrowth and oxidation of the water in the pond, which will make it difficult for the entrepreneur to catch fish.
In order for the pond to receive a sufficient amount of natural water, it is recommended to clean the nearest reservoirs and provide access to groundwater.
The best type of pond for growing sturgeon is drainage. This type has the following advantages:
- processing the bottom does not take much time and effort;
- easy to catch fish;
- the drainage pond does not oxidize and becomes swampy.
Thus, when there are ravines and hollows in the local area, it is recommended to create a drainage pond. Reservoirs of this type are distinguished by good heating of water by the sun's rays and abundant vegetation at the bottom - an additional source of food for fish.
When a farmer has sufficient financial resources and the desire to breed large volumes of fish of various varieties, he can create a pond-reservoir. However, the construction of a reservoir will require not only financial costs, but also other efforts, such as the preparation of additional documentation and agreements with local authorities.
Business cost and profitability
To breed sturgeon, you need starting capital in the range of 200-250 thousand rubles. However, taking into account the cost of equipment, renting or purchasing a place for growing fish, this amount reaches 300-600 thousand rubles. If an entrepreneur does not have sufficient financial resources to implement a project, options are available for finding a business partner or obtaining a bank loan.
Sterlet breeding is a profitable business that has both retail and wholesale clients. Based on this business, some entrepreneurs organize a fish farm to supply food companies, grocery stores, cafes, restaurants and sushi bars.It is also possible to create reservoirs with paid fishing and areas for private recreation. When production volumes are high, some farmers breed sterlet fry to collect caviar, the cost of which ranges from two to three thousand rubles per fifty grams. The net profit from the sale of one ton of sterlet is 550-600 thousand rubles, depending on the region.
