The optimum salinity and the effects of rapid salinity change on oxygen consumption and ammonia nitrogen excretion were examined in River Puffer Takifugu obscrus (total length 9.5$pm$0.9 cm, total weight 18.7$pm$5.4 g). Fish examined at the different transfer medium salinity (2, 12, 22 and 32 psu) after 2 months of acclimation period at each salinities. The routine metabolic rates of River puffer are shown as parabola equation, $Y=-0.0873X^2+0.6384X-0.690$ for oxygen consumption and $Y=-2.1667X^2+7.1672X+31.999$ for ammonia nitrogen excretion with the salinity medium at 2, 12. 22 and 32 psu. The oxygen consumption and ammonia nitrogen excretion of River puffer trans-ferred to the low salinity medium (2 and 12 psu) showed significantly difference in each salinities rearing groups than to salinity of 22 and 32 psu. Fish has a diurnal rhythm in relate to feeding, it was showed that the peak of oxygen consumption appeared at 3 hours after feeding and the ammonia nitrogen excretion rate reached maximum 4 hours after feeding. These results may indicate that the optimum salinity for rearing of River puffer is 22 psu based on growth and feed conversion ratio. The rapid change of medium salinity had no effects on the oxygen consumption and nitrogen excretion in River puffer based on this experiment.