The results showed that the total annual weight loss rate of the male was −4.58% and the total weight gain rate of the female was 24.12%, in which the weight of both individuals registered highly significant differences in summer, fall and winter ( p < 0.01).
In agreement with previous reports, erythrocyte content of both Chinese sturgeons in this study also showed a decreasing trend after summer, when water temperature starts to fall.
In comparison of condition factors, the female Chinese sturgeon also had a range between 1.66 and 1.82, significantly higher ( p < 0.01) than the seasonal values of 1.14–1.31 in the male over the study period and showing an increasing trend from spring to winter whereas the male condition factor decreasing from spring to fall until a slight increase during winter times ( Figure 1C ).