What tank size does a Sterlet need?

A Sterlet needs an aquarium of at least 9000 litres (2377.5 US gallons) with a footprint at least 300 cm (118.1 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.

What water parameters does a Sterlet need?

Sterlet does best at 4–22 °C (39.2–71.6 °F), pH 6.5–8.5 and a general hardness of 5–25 °dGH.

Is the Sterlet suitable for beginners?

Sterlet is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.

Species library

Sterlet

Acipenser ruthenus

Acipenseridae

FishDifficulty: ●●●●●Data: well-established

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About

The sterlet is one of the smaller sturgeons and still an enormous fish by any aquarium measure: a river-bottom animal from the Black, Azov and Caspian drainages that reaches 100-125 cm and up to 16 kg. Shops sell it at 15-25 cm, and it is stocked not only in pond sections but, far too often, in aquarium departments — where it cannot live. Sterlets are coldwater fish that want roughly 10-18 °C, near-saturated oxygen and a strong current over an open sand bottom, so a heated tropical tank is a slow death sentence, and no aquarium of any size holds a metre-long sturgeon. This is a pond fish for a large, heavily filtered, aerated pond, or it is nothing.

Care

Pond only — never an aquarium. Needs about 9,000 L (roughly 2,000 L per sterlet, and the cited pond guide's 2,000 imperial gallons as a floor), at least 3 m of open swimming length and 1.5 m of depth, cool water (ideally 10-18 °C, and never sustained above roughly 22 °C), pond-grade filtration and constant aeration. Keep the bottom open and free of blanketweed, which sturgeon fatally tangle in. Feed sinking sturgeon pellets, not koi food.

Diet

Bottom-feeding carnivore taking crustaceans, worms and insect larvae. In captivity it requires sinking, high-protein sturgeon sticks several times a day and keeps feeding down to about 4 °C.

Tankmate compatibility

Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.

Telling males from females

There is no reliable way to sex this species by eye. That is the honest answer, not a gap in our data.

All the methods, with diagrams

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Sold in Lithuania

These Lithuanian shops listed this species in their public catalogue (checked August 8, 2026). Stock moves — ask before you travel.

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Frequently asked questions

What tank size does a Sterlet need?: A Sterlet needs an aquarium of at least 9000 litres (2377.5 US gallons) with a footprint at least 300 cm (118.1 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
What water parameters does a Sterlet need?: Sterlet does best at 4–22 °C (39.2–71.6 °F), pH 6.5–8.5 and a general hardness of 5–25 °dGH.
Is the Sterlet suitable for beginners?: Sterlet is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature4–22°C

Optimal temp.10–18°C

pH6.5–8.5

Hardness (GH)5–25°d

Carbonate (KH)4–15°d

Adult size120 cm

Min. volume≥ 9,000 L

Min. tank length≥ 300 cm

Swimming zoneBottom

TemperamentPeaceful

Water typeFreshwater

FlowStrong

Lifespan~25 yrs

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