The sterlet is a common Eurasian species of sturgeon, one of the smaller species of sturgeon. It is a common domestic species in the UK and Europe and an angling species all over the world. It can also be grown for eating or for its caviar or isinglass.

This sturgeon inhabits rivers that flow into the following seas: Caspian, Black, Azov, Baltic, White, Barents, Kara, and inhabits both the Black and Caspian seas, and ascends rivers to a greater distance from the sea than any of the other sturgeons; thus, for instance, it is not uncommon in the Danube at Vienna, but specimens have been caught as high up as Regensburg and Ulm. It is more abundant in the rivers of Russia.

The sterlet may reach 16 kg in weight and 100 to 125 cm in length, rarely exceeding a length of 3 ft. It is quite variable in coloration, but usually has a yellowish ventral side. It is distinguishable between other European species of sturgeons by the presence of a great number of whitish lateral scutes, fringed barbels, and an elongated and narrow snout, highly variable in length,.

The sterlet's main source of food is benthic organisms; they commonly feed on mo crustaceans, worms, and insect larvae.

The sterlet commonly reaches the age of 22 to 25 years

Sterlets require relatively large ponds with good water conditions, and may get entangled in plants such as blanketweed. They are friendly fish. Sterlets may require specialist food such as sterlet sticks, as they are unable to digest the vegetable proteins usually found in commercial fish foods.