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¹ University of Tehran, Faculty of Natural Resources, Department of Fisheries, P.O. Box 4314, Karaj, Iran
² International Sturgeon Research Institute, P.O. Box 41635-3464, Rasht, Iran DOI : 10.4194/1303-2712-v13_1_04 Viewed : 4788 - Downloaded : 5503 Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii Brandt, 1869) is a suitable species for aquacultural purposes. This study was conducted to investigate the influence of stocking density on blood parameters of cultured immature Siberian sturgeon introduced to Iranian aquaculture systems, in order to monitor crowding stress. Two-year old juvenile fish (weight 607.7±21.49 g, total length: 68±9.46 cm [mean ± SE]) were reared at low, moderate and high densities (6, 12 and 18 fish 250 L^-1, respectively) for 5 months. Cortisol, glucose and cholesterol concentration of blood plasma were measured four times during the experiment (July, August, October and November 2008). The present study indicated that (1) density had no significant effect of blood cortisol, glucose and cholesterol concentration in A. baerii (cortisol: 7.8-13.1, cholesterol: 115.6- 133.9, glucose: 41.4-46.8 ng ml-1[range]) (2) a significant increase in cortisol concentration of all densities was found in August which was related to water temperature rise (23.75±2.69 in August vs 7.09±1.16 ng ml^-1 for other months [mean ± SE]). Therefore, it seems that the Siberian sturgeon is not sensitive species against rearing density in aquaculture systems. Further investigation on critical density and factors that change tolerability to high density are needed to be addressed. Keywords : Siberian sturgeon, stress, rearing density, growth