A comparative study was conducted on muscle nutritional component and nutritive quality between pond-and cage-reared paddlefish Polyodon spathula.Pond-reared fish were fed with commercial diet while those of cagereared ones took natural diet,i.e.,zooplankton.The results showed that pond group contained significantly(P<0.05)higher crude protein and crude ash and lower crude fat than cage group.The constitutional rate of essential amino acids met the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/Word Health Organization(FAO/WHO)standards and the content of Lys was highest in essential amino acids in both pond and cage groups.The content of total delicious amino acids(∑DAA)in pond group was significantly lower than that of cage group(P<0.05).According to nutrition evaluation in amino acids score(AAS)and chemical score(CS),the first limited amino acids were Val and Met+Cys in both pond and cage groups.The content of ∑MUFA in pond group was significantly higher than those of cage group(P<0.05),while contents of ∑SFA and ∑PUFA were lower than that of cage group(P>0.05).The percentages of ∑n-3PUFAs/∑n-6PUFA and EPA+DHA in pond group were significantly lower than those of cage group(P<0.05).It is concluded that paddlefish reared with natural diet could be considered to be higher valued fish for human beings than that fed with commercial feed.