The sterlet (sterlet, lat. Acipenser ruthenus) belongs to the sturgeon family and is at the same time one of the oldest known species of fish. It resembles similar species of sturgeon – beluga, sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, but is smaller. Since ancient times, this fish has been considered a valuable fishing object. It tastes great and contains many nutrients.
Sterlet fish: photo and general description
This fish belongs to the cartilaginous subclass. It is the smallest sturgeon species. Adults rarely grow more than 1.2-1.3 meters in length. In most cases, their dimensions do not exceed 30-40 cm. At the same time, their weight is a maximum of 2 kg. The sterlet is characterized by an elongated body and a large head. It has a triangular shape. A characteristic feature of this fish is an elongated conical snout, which is divided in two by the lower lip. At the bottom there is a mustache. There are bony scutes on the head that fuse with each other. The body is covered with ganoid scales and ridges. A distinctive feature of the fish is the location of the dorsal fin. It is shifted closer to the tail. The sterlet is characterized by a gray-brown color. Sometimes it contains light yellow impurities. The abdomen is lighter in color.
Varieties
In recent years, many varieties of sterlet have been bred on farms:
- Bester is considered the most common hybrid. It was obtained by crossing the sterlet with the beluga. It is an undemanding variety that grows up to 1.8 meters and is highly productive.
- Koster is a combination of sterlet with Siberian sturgeon. Its length does not exceed 1.7 meters.
- Sturgeon thorn is considered the most common hybrid, which was obtained by crossing with the Russian sturgeon.
- Sevruga spike is a well-known hybrid with sevruga. This fish tastes great.
- Caster is considered the newest hybrid. It was obtained by crossing with Kaluga. This fish was bred in Primorye. It is characterized by rapid growth rates.
Difference from similar fish
Sterlet is often confused with sturgeon. However, for fish, they have significant differences. The sterlet has a narrower head. In addition, it has a long nose with a pointed end. Another distinctive feature is the presence of a long, fringed mustache. Many side bugs also help to identify the sterlet. They are bone shields. Sharp thorns grow from them on the back.
Habitat
A large number of sterlet is concentrated in Russia. She lives in river basins that flow into different seas – Black, Caspian, Azov, Kara, White. Sterlets are found in the Volga, Dnieper, Don. They are also in the Northern Dvina, Kuban, Pechora. In addition, the fish has taken root well in the rivers that flow into some lakes – among them, in particular, are Ladoga and Onega. Sterlet is also found in the rivers Irtysh, Ural, Ob. Outside the Russian Federation, the largest sterlet populations can be found in the Dnieper, Danube, Prut. Sterlet
Lifestyle
The sterlet is a predator. She lives in reservoirs with the purest water. Sometimes the fish gets into the seas, but prefers to stay near the mouths of rivers. In summer, the sterlet lives in shallow waters. With the arrival of autumn, the fish move to wintering pits. It is there that she awaits the onset of spring. In the cold season, the sterlet hardly moves and does not eat. When the ice begins to melt, the sterlet leaves the pits and moves up the river to spawn.
Interesting! The sterlet lives in numerous flocks. Even during the wintering period, she prefers to stay closer to her relatives.
Spawning
The sterlet ripens at 5 years. However, females begin to reproduce only at the age of 7. For spawning, fish chooses rocky places. Most often, this process begins in May. Within 2 weeks, the female lays eggs, doing this gradually. The fish has rather small caviar. However, it does not always differ in black color. If the fish has a yellow tint, then the caviar has about the same color – gray-yellow.
What does the sterlet eat?
Since the sterlet is a predatory fish, it needs a lot of protein. The basis of the diet is made up of invertebrates that live on the bottom. Individuals of this species eat eggs, insects, larvae. They also consume worms and small crustaceans. In the diet of sterlet, leeches, mollusks, caviar may also be present. The fry require smaller food. They consume cyclops, plankton, daphnia. When farming sterlet, they can be given special feed and shrimp.
Catching
In order to successfully catch sterlet, it is important to take into account many nuances.
Where to find
The sterlet prefers to live in reservoirs with cool water. In summer, it concentrates near the surface of the water. This makes it easier to find food, because fish often feed on insects.
Tackle used
For fishing, you can use different types of equipment – a float rod, spinning rod or bottom tackle.
How to catch
As a nozzle for catching this fish, you can use bloodworms, maggots, worms. Different types of insects or fish fry are also great. Sometimes anglers use artificial baits. Small spinners or jig baits are suitable for this. It is recommended to hunt sterlet in the evening or at night. During the day, the fish remain cautious.
It is important to take into account that it is not possible to catch it everywhere. In many bodies of water, sterlet fishing is prohibited.
Lure
When fishing in shallow water, do not use bait. This may attract completely different fish than the fisherman is counting on. Catching sterlet on a donk: https://youtu.be/ZjV7gzV4mjM
Taste qualities
Sterlet is characterized by rather dense meat, which tastes slightly like chicken. The belly of this fish is especially tasty. It is permissible to use it smoked or salt. However, to a greater extent, the taste is manifested in a boiled form. Therefore, ukha is often prepared from sterlet. Sterlet fish soup recipe: https://youtu.be/T2s_TYvZyDE
Benefits and harms, calorie content
Meat is considered a dietary product. 100 grams of fillet contains only 88 kcal. In addition, fish contains many vitamins and minerals. Especially valuable are omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids. They have a beneficial effect on brain function and improve blood circulation. With regular use of this product, it is possible to normalize the work of the heart and blood vessels. In addition, it improves the condition of the skin, activates the functions of the nervous system, and strengthens bone structures. At the same time, the fish is practically devoid of dangerous properties. It should be abandoned only by those people who have an intolerance to seafood. You should also be careful with people who suffer from dysfunction of the pancreas.
How to cook sterlet: features and video recipes
Sterlet is considered a versatile fish. It can be cooked in any form – boil, fry, stew or bake. How to bake a whole sterlet in the oven – video recipe: https://youtu.be/VQSFMw57mUA The taste of fish is perfectly revealed when cooking on the grill. It is also permissible to salt or smoke sterlet. Its meat can be used as a filling for pies. One of the most popular dishes is royal fish soup. Royal Sterlet Ear: https://youtu.be/8x-dkixhKR8 Sterlet is considered a common fish that contains many valuable components and tastes great. Sterlet in the oven in foil – a step-by-step video recipe: https://youtu.be/_tfCiyzzx5M To get tasty and healthy dishes from it, it is important to follow the technology of their preparation.
