The effects of starvation and satiation on oxygen consumption,nitrogen excretion and phosphorous excretion of white shrimp(Litopenaeus vannamei) were examined in the laboratory to investigate metabolism of this species influenced by feeding under different temperatures and individual weights.The experimental results indicated that the metabolic rate of the shrimp was affected by ambient temperature and fresh weight.The oxygen consumption rate,the nitrogen excretion rate and the phosphorous excretion rate of full-fed shrimp increased by 44.5%, 42.9% and 37.0% respectively compared with those of starved shrimp,and specific dynamic action(SDA) of the shrimp was 0.120 mg·(g·h)~(-1).Moreover,the ratio of excreted nitrogen to excreted phosphorous in satiated shrimp also increased significantly compared with starved shrimp.The endogenous N/P ratio and the exogenous N/P ratio were 11.11 and 27.71,respectively.