Skip to content 
This species is well known to fishermen who take fishing trips across vast Siberia. But for many others, the fish's name may be unfamiliar and unfamiliar. This article is dedicated to another relative of the sturgeon. The bester got its name from the crossbreeding of such noble fish as the beluga and the sterlet. This resulted in another royal sturgeon.
What does the fish look like and its characteristics?
· Color varies from light brown to black.
· Like its sturgeon relatives, the individual has paired barbels located under the snout.
· The head is extended forward and slightly rounded.
· Bone scutes run along the sides.
Key Features:
· The fish leads an active lifestyle and has excellent fertility and vitality.
· Tolerates Siberian temperature fluctuations well.
Besters are capable of breeding in captivity and are undemanding of artificial food. They gain weight quickly, which is a huge advantage when breeding.
· Survives freely in fresh water and has commercial value.
It is worth noting that the sturgeon family has several varieties:
1. Burtsevy was the very first to be bred. The fish was highly profitable when bred, but females only began reproducing after eight years. Males matured almost twice as fast.
2. Sterlyazhsky has proven to be the most successful option. Females are capable of producing offspring after just three years. This means this variety begins laying expensive black caviar two and a half times faster.
3. Beluga, created by crossing beluga eggs with existing besters, meaning the individual underwent secondary hybridization. This provided numerous advantages. The fish grows quickly and lays approximately 500,000 eggs at a time.
Pros and cons of the Bester
Individuals have other advantages.
They outgrow all their relatives in growth. After a year of life, the fish gains weight over 1 kilogram.
· The largest specimens can weigh up to 30 kg live and be about 2 meters long.
The hybrid's meat is distinguished by its excellent taste. Various healthy delicacies are made from bester. The fish can be prepared in a variety of ways, and is sometimes eaten raw, as so-called russula, which can be cooked right on the shore.
P.S
We described the characteristics and advantages of the royal species, which breeders developed by crossing beluga and sterlet sturgeons. As you can see, this method resulted in a profitable and very easy-to-maintain specimen. Many private entrepreneurs in Siberia enjoy breeding besters.
When the fish grow to full size, private owners organize trophy fishing trips, exclusively for the capture of the largest specimens. An unspoken rule always applies: catch, photograph, weigh, and release the fish back into the wild. The person who lands the heaviest specimen during the trip receives a commemorative prize.
