Abstract: The resting metabolic rate(VO2rest),body composition and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption(EPOC)of 33 juvenile Silurus asotus(32.14±1.40)g were investigated after 0,1,2,4 and 8 weeks' starvation under(25±1) ℃.VO2rest were(2.21 ± 0.15),(1.63 ± 0.04),(1.64 ± 0.13),(1.44 ±0.08) and(0.98 ± 0.09) mgO2/kg/min after 0,1,2,4 and 8 weeks' starvation,respectively.There were no significant difference in VO2rest among 1,2 and 4 week starvation groups,whereas,all the three groups were significantly lower than that of 0 week group but significantly higher than that of 8 week group(P0.05).Combined the above results with which of body composition,it suggested that there existed a "stable period" in VO2rest during long term starvation,and the energy expenditure in this period was mainly provided by catabolism of lipid rather than protein,which might play a more important role in energy supply after "stable period".The oxygen consumption was immediately increased to peak value at 2 min after exhaustive exercise and slowly decreased to a stabilized level.The excess post-exercise oxygen consumptions were(31.8 ± 6.06),(76.67 ± 4.34),(69.2 ± 5.89),(70.41 ± 3.12) and(38.28 ± 2.72) mgO2/kg after 0,1,2,4 and 8 weeks' starvation,respectively.The excess post-exercise oxygen consumptions of 1,2 and 4 week starvation groups were significantly higher than both those of 0 and 8 week groups(P0.05),which suggested there was a "exhibition period" in function compensation.The time course of "stable period" in VO2rest and "exhibition period" in function compensation were identical,which suggested that there existed close relationship between metabolic expenditure and physiological function compensation in Silurus asotus.