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How to Get Caviar in Stardew Valley: The Definitive Guide

So, you’re chasing the finer things in life, are you? Yearning for that exquisite taste of Caviar in your Stardew Valley farm? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Getting your hands on this culinary delicacy requires a specific process involving fish, ponds, and a little patience. The key to obtaining Caviar is by placing a Sturgeon in a Fish Pond and waiting for it to produce Sturgeon Roe. Then, you must place the Sturgeon Roe into a Preserves Jar and wait for it to process. This results in the much-desired Caviar. Let’s dive into the details and unlock the secrets to becoming a Caviar connoisseur in Stardew Valley!

Understanding the Caviar Process

Producing Caviar might seem straightforward, but each step has nuances that can affect your success. It’s not just about chucking a fish in a pond!

Step 1: Catching a Sturgeon

The journey begins with acquiring a Sturgeon. This isn’t your average pond dweller, so pay attention to the details:

Where to Find: Sturgeon reside in the Mountain Lake (the one north of the Mines) during the Summer and Winter.
Time of Day: They are active between 6 AM and 7 PM.
Weather: Rain or shine, Sturgeon can be caught during their active seasons.
Fishing Level: A decent fishing level helps, but using a cork bobber or trap bobber makes catching Sturgeon much easier. The cork bobber increases the size of the fishing bar, and the trap bobber makes it harder for the fish to escape.
Bait and Tackle: While not strictly required, using bait improves your chances of finding a fish, and tackling like the Trap Bobber is helpful when catching difficult fish like Sturgeon.

Step 2: Building a Fish Pond

Next, you’ll need a proper home for your Sturgeon – a Fish Pond.

Construction: Visit Robin at the Carpenter’s Shop to commission the construction of a Fish Pond.
Cost: Each Fish Pond costs 5,000g, 200 Stone, 5 Seaweed, and 5 Green Algae.
Placement: Choose a suitable location on your farm. Fish Ponds occupy a 3×3 tile area.
Capacity: Initially, the pond can only hold three fish. This can be increased by completing quests given by the fish.

Step 3: Populating the Fish Pond with Sturgeon

Once the Fish Pond is built, it’s time to introduce your Sturgeon to its new home.

Adding the Fish: Simply interact with the Fish Pond and select the Sturgeon from your inventory.
Population Growth: A single Sturgeon will eventually prompt a quest to increase the pond’s capacity. Fulfilling these quests (usually involving bringing specific items) will allow you to house up to ten Sturgeon in a single pond.

Step 4: Harvesting Sturgeon Roe

Now comes the waiting game. Sturgeon in a Fish Pond will periodically produce Sturgeon Roe.

Production Rate: The rate at which Roe is produced depends on the number of Sturgeon in the pond. A full pond of 10 Sturgeon produces Roe much faster than a pond with only one or two.
Collection: Check your Fish Pond daily. Roe will appear as an item you can collect from the pond.
Quests and Items: Keep an eye out for quests from your Sturgeon. Fulfilling these quests might involve providing items like coral or seaweed. These quests not only increase the pond’s capacity but also improve Roe production.

Step 5: Crafting Caviar with a Preserves Jar

This is where the magic happens! With Sturgeon Roe in hand, you are on the verge of getting Caviar.

Preserves Jar: You’ll need a Preserves Jar. These can be crafted after reaching Farming Level 4. The recipe requires 50 Wood, 40 Stone, and 8 Coal.
Processing: Place the Sturgeon Roe in the Preserves Jar.
Waiting: Wait for approximately 6000 minutes (that’s around 2-3 days in-game). The Preserves Jar will then transform the Sturgeon Roe into the coveted Caviar.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Caviar

Here are some common questions and answers to help you further understand the Caviar production process in Stardew Valley:

FAQ 1: How much does Caviar sell for?

Caviar is quite valuable. It sells for 500g, making it one of the more profitable artisan goods you can produce. Selling a stack of caviar can significantly boost your income.

FAQ 2: Can I get Caviar from other fish in the Fish Pond?

No. Caviar is exclusively made from Sturgeon Roe. Other fish produce different types of roe, but none of them can be processed into Caviar.

FAQ 3: Is it worth it to make Caviar?

Absolutely! The profit margin is substantial, especially if you have multiple Fish Ponds dedicated to Sturgeon. The initial investment in building the ponds and acquiring the fish pays off handsomely over time. Also, Caviar is a loved gift by several villagers, making it useful to befriend them.

FAQ 4: How do I increase the Fish Pond capacity?

The fish themselves will request items via quests. These quests often involve bringing specific items like seaweed, coral, or other types of fish. Fulfilling these requests will increase the Fish Pond capacity.

FAQ 5: Can I put multiple types of fish in one Fish Pond?

No. Each Fish Pond can only house one type of fish. This is an important consideration when planning your Fish Pond layout.

FAQ 6: What happens if I remove all the fish from a Fish Pond?

If you remove all the fish, the Fish Pond will revert to its initial state, ready to house a new type of fish.

FAQ 7: Does the quality of the Sturgeon affect the Caviar?

No, the quality of the Sturgeon (e.g., silver, gold) does not affect the quality of the Caviar produced. All Sturgeon Roe, regardless of the Sturgeon’s quality, will result in standard quality Caviar.

FAQ 8: Can I use the Fish Pond for anything else besides producing Roe?

Yes, Fish Ponds can also produce other items depending on the type of fish inhabiting them. These items can include coral, seaweed, algae, and even geodes! Furthermore, the Sturgeon can produce 5 roe at a time, Stone, and Geodes with a probability of 2%.

FAQ 9: What is the best strategy for maximizing Caviar production?

The best strategy involves maximizing the number of Sturgeon in each Fish Pond. This means completing the quests to increase the pond’s capacity to ten fish as quickly as possible. Having multiple ponds dedicated to Sturgeon will further amplify your Caviar production.

FAQ 10: Does the Fisher or Angler profession affect Caviar production?

The Fisher and Angler professions primarily affect the selling price of fish caught using a fishing rod. They do not directly impact the production rate or quality of Caviar. However, the Angler profession’s 50% increase in fish value increases the selling price of Sturgeon, increasing your income while initially building up the pond’s population.

FAQ 11: Is there a way to speed up the processing time in the Preserves Jar?

Unfortunately, there is no way to directly speed up the processing time of the Preserves Jar. The 2-3 day duration is fixed. However, planning and having multiple Preserves Jars will help you process more Sturgeon Roe concurrently.

FAQ 12: Can I use fertilizer to improve the quality of the Sturgeon?

No, fertilizer only affects crop growth. It has no impact on fish quality or production rates in Fish Ponds. Focus on fulfilling the fish’s quests to improve the pond’s capacity and output.

With this comprehensive guide and the answers to these frequently asked questions, you are well-equipped to embark on your Caviar-producing journey in Stardew Valley. Good luck, and happy farming!