Growth efficiency, body composition, survival and haematological changes in great sturgeon (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758) juveniles fed diets supplemented with different levels of Ergosan

Growth performance, carcass quality, survival and haematological responses were determined when Huso huso juvenile (41.7±1.8 g) fed diets containing Ergosan (an algal product) at 0, 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 g kg⁻¹ for 60 days. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of fish at 10-day intervals (1-10, 20-30 and 40-50 with non-supplemented diets and 10-20, 30-40 and 50-60 with supplemented diets). Results showed that fish fed diets containing Ergosan had significantly higher growth than the control group (P0.05). Food conversion ratio in the fish fed a diet containing 4.0 and 6.0 g kg⁻¹ Ergosan was significantly better than the other treatments (P0.05) but body protein in the fish fed a diet containing Ergosan at the level of 2.0 and 4.0 g kg⁻¹ was higher than the other treatments. Whole body ash content was higher in the control group. It was concluded that dietary administration of Ergosan can influence some growth and haematological parameters in great sturgeon, H. huso juveniles.