This nocturnal fish undertakes regular migrations, and after becoming sexually mature at seven to eight years old, it swims upstream during the spring floods each year to spawn. A large number of sticky eggs are produced, which adhere securely to stones on the riverbed (4). From hatching to around three weeks old, the tiny juveniles remain close to the river bottom, feeding on zooplankton and hiding from predators. Once they reach 10 to 11 weeks old, they are large enough to migrate downstream to join the adults (5). Older Yangtze sturgeon consume small fish and aquatic plants (4).