Abstract: The food consumption, faecal production, excretion, metabolism, growth and chemical composition of the minnow weighing 1—5 g were determined at various rations (starvation to ad libitum) and temperatures (5—15℃). The maximum rate of food consumption increased with increased body size and temperature. On the average, 6.5% of the food energy was lost in faeces, and 5.1% in the excretion of nitrogenous substances. The feeding metabolic rate increased with increased rate of feeding. At each temperature, the relationship between growth rate and ration was a decelerating curve. At maximum rations, growth rate increased with increased temperature; at restricted rations, growth rate decreased with increased temperature. The dry matter content and energy content of the fish increased with increased ration.