This study was conducted to explore the swimming ability of different species of juveniles under fasting stress. Herring (Mylopharyngodon piceus), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), bighead (Aristichthys nobilis), crucian carp (Carassius auratus), long loach (Leptobotia elongata), loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus), and Taiwan loach (Paramisgumus dabryanus ssp.) were studied. The induced flow rate (U_ind), critical swimming speed (U_crit), and burst swimming speed (U_burst) were determined for different periods of fasting (0, 2, 5, 10, 15 d). For all the eight fish species, the following result is obtained: induced flow speed ＜ critical swimming speed ＜ burst swimming speed. The variation in the average induction flow rate ranges from (6.12–12.78) cm/s. Meanwhile, the induction flow rate of grass carp, silver carp, and bighead is close to and sensitive to the flow rate, and the induction flow rate is 4.75–7.75 cm/s. The swimming speeds of the eight fish species were significantly different (P＜0.05). Among the eight experimental fish, the critical swimming velocity and burst velocity were the highest for herring (121.65±3.19 cm/s, 143.48±5.77 cm/s), which were followed by that of long loach (85.08±3.23 cm/s, and 132.68±8.52 cm/s). The critical swimming velocity and burst swimming velocity of the Taiwanese loach were slower, which were (19.28±1.90) cm/s and (31.53±2.14) cm/s, respectively. The effect of fasting on the induced flow rate was not significant (P＞0.05); however, the critical swimming speed and burst swimming speed decreased linearly with fasting time, and the decrease in critical swimming speed was more significant than that in the burst swimming speed (P＜0.05). At 0 d and 2 d, the critical and burst speeds were significant (P＞0.05); at 5 d; after 5 d, the critical and burst speeds decreased by 13% to 51% and 9% to 39%, respectively. After 10 d of fasting, critical and burst swimming speeds decreased by 29%–70% and 20%–55%, respectively, with the most significant reduction in swimming speed during 10d fasting. Therefore, 10 d is a critical period that affects the swimming ability of fish. Fasting had no significant effect on the induced flow rate of juveniles; however, the critical swimming speed and burst swimming speed were significantly affected by the fasting time and a longer decrease in swimming ability. Moreover, the difference between critical and burst swimming speeds may stem from differences in energy expenditure between the different swimming modes.