The experiment was conducted to study the influence of starvation on the metabolism of parent Chinese mitten-handed crab (Eriocheir sinensis) with weights of 54.59 (+/- 2.37) g under 20 (+/- 0.5) degree C during Oct. to Dec., 1998. The results showed oxygen consumption, CO2 production and ammonia-N excretion of the parent crab being starved for 30 days were 50.0%, 63.4%, and 59.1% of those of the fed crab, respectively. The course of oxygen consumption reduction could be divided into four phases: 1) from the 1st day to the 6th day, the metabolic rate decreased remarkably; 2) from the 7th day to the 15th day, the metabolic rate kept relatively stable; 3) from the 16th day to the 25th day, the metabolic rate decreased markedly again; and 4) from 26th day to 30th day (the end time of the experiment), the metabolic rate decreased most dramatically. There were only three phases during the course of CO2 production and ammonia-N excretion reduction. Meanwhile, the standard metabolism of the starved crab reduced from 4.45 to 2.36 J.g-1.h-1, and lipid was used as the first energy source in the course of starvation.