Concrete　filled　steel　tube　(CFST)　has　been　widely　used　as　the　arch　ribs　of　CFST　arch　bridges　and　embedded　arch　frameworks　of　Melan　arch　bridges.　The　use　of　ultra-high　strength　concrete　(UHSC)　in　CFST　could　improve　the　span　capacity　of　these　two　types　of　arch　bridges.　In　this　case,　the　core　UHSC　is　under　the　sealed　condition　because　the　two　ends　of　the　UHSC-FST　arch　are　embedded　in　seats　or　abutments.　This　paper　presented　experimental　tests　on　UHSC-FST　short　columns　with　two　sealed　ends,　and　two　common　used　curing　regimes　(natural　curing　and　steam　curing)　were　taken　as　parameters.　The　test　results　showed　that　the　compressive　cube　and　prism　strength　of　core　UHSC　under　steam　curing　were　6.6%　and　8.0%　lower　than　those　under　natural　curing,　respectively;　the　average　ultimate　strength　and　residual　strength　of　UHSC-FST　specimens　under　steam　curing　were　5.5%　and　22.5%　lower　than　those　under　natural　curing,　respectively.　The　reduction　in　the　ultimate　strength　is　mainly　resulted　from　the　reduction　in　the　compressive　strength　of　core　UHSC.　Therefore,　natural　curing　is　recommended　for　UHSC-FST　in　practical　engineering.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　license　to　Springer　Nature　Switzerland　AG　2025.