Abstract: To investigate the effects of starvation on visceral organs and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) of juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio), the body mass and body length of 35 fish with (21.34±0.42) g and (9.39±0.08) cm were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., control group (S0), 1 week starvation group (S1), 2 week starvation group (S2), 4 week starvation group (S4) and 8 week starvation group (S8). The results indicated that body mass, carcass mass, visceral mass, liver mass, digestive tract mass, heart mass and gill mass of juvenile C. carpio significantly decreased with the increased starvation period. Starvation have no effect on the body length, heart and gill indexes of C. carpio (P>0.05). Carcass index significantly increased in S2, S4 and S8 groups compared to those in S0 and S1 groups (P<0.001). Viscus and liver indexes significantly decreased in S2, S4 and S8 groups compared to those in S0 and S1 groups (P<0.001). The digestive tract index in S1 group was significantly lower than that of S0 group, but was significantly higher than those of S2, S4 and S8 groups (P<0.001). Pre-exercise metabolic rate in S1 group was significantly lower than that of S0 group, but was significantly higher than those of S2, S4 and S8 groups (P<0.001). The peak post-exercise metabolic rate and increment of metabolic rate in S1 group were significantly higher than those of S0, S4 and S8 groups (P<0.001, P=0.003). There was no significant difference in the time to MO₂ peak of C. carpio among group (P>0.05). Factorial scopes in starved groups were significantly higher than that of S0 group (P=0.002). The magnitude of EPOC in S1 group was significantly higher those of S4 and S8 groups (P=0.043). Our results suggested that organs/tissues responded differently to starvation due to the different physiological roles, and that short-term starvation significantly increased aerobic and anaerobic capacity to improve feeding and escaping ability in juvenile C. carpio.