In order to obtain optimum feeding conditions in young red sea bream Pagrus major, fish averaging 5.1 g in body weight were divided into five groups. Three groups were fed to satiation at different frequencies (two, four and six times a day) for 49 days. The other two groups were reared with a fixed daily ration corresponding to two times satiation at different frequencies (four and six times a day). In satiation, increasing feeding frequency elevated the amount of total food intake, intraperitoneal fat body ratio and muscle lipid level. However, feed efficiency and hepatosomatic index were depressed. Fish fed to four satiations daily had the lowest intestinal length. Liver lipogenic and aminotransferase activities were significantly higher in the group fed to four satiations daily. Different feeding frequencies at a fixed ration exhibited only small differences in the parameters concerning lipid accumulation. Reduced feeding frequency significantly extended intestinal length. Frequent feeding tended to enhance the liver enzyme activities associated with gluconeogenesis and glycolysis, and depress lipogenesis. The feed utilization, lipid accumulation, intestinal length and liver enzyme activities showed that two satiations daily would be sufficient in young red sea bream.