Females of the Paddlefish do not reach maturity until they are about 12 years old.
Discover in real lifeFood
zooplankton, such as water fleas and insect larvae
Lifetime
30 - 55 year
Weight
18 - 70 kg
Number of eggs
7,000 - 3,000 eggs
Incubation time
5 days
IUCN Status
fragile
55
years, that's how old the American paddlefish can get
70
kilo, that's how much the American paddlefish weighs at most
5
days, is the breeding season of an American paddlefish
The American Paddlefish eats very small aquatic animals, such as mosquito larvae. To detect these animals, it uses its long nose. The paddlefish's nose contains cells that can sense electricity. Every life creature gives off very small electrical signals. The paddlefish's nose is so sensitive that it can pick up a signal from a water flea.
The female paddlefish lays her eggs in spring. She drops her eggs over gravel or sand. The eggs are sticky and so remain. Males then swim over the eggs and release their sperm. This is how the eggs are fertilised. After that, both males and females leave. Young spoon sturgeons have to look after themselves.