Abstract: The present study investigated the effects of dietary Citrus aurantium extract (CAE) on growth, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of Chinese soft-shelled turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis) fed low-fishmeal diets. Four experimental diets were formulated: a fishmeal-based control (CON), a low-fishmeal diet (NCON), and NCON supplemented with 0.05% (CAE1) or 0.10% (CAE2) CAE. Compared with NCON, both CAE1 and CAE2 increased weight gain, reduced feed conversion ratio, and improved intestinal villus height and epithelial integrity (P<0.05). Digestive enzyme activities including amylase, lipase, and trypsin were higher in CAE-supplemented groups (P<0.05). Serum ACP, AKP, C3, and C4 levels were elevated, and antioxidant indices (SOD, CAT, GSH, T-AOC) in liver and intestinal increased, with MDA decreased (P<0.05). At the transcriptional level, nrf2, sod, cat, and gpx were upregulated in CAE groups, with gpx higher in CAE1 and sod, cat, gpx higher in CAE2 (P<0.05). Pro-inflammatory cytokines (nf-κb, mapk, tnf-α, il-1β, il-6, il-8, tlr2) were downregulated, while anti-inflammatory genes (il-10, tgf-β, ppar-α) and tight junction proteins (zo-1, claudin-1, occludin) were upregulated (P<0.05). In conclusion, Citrus aurantium extract improved growth, antioxidant status, and intestinal health in turtles under low-fishmeal diets.