Vimba, Vimba vimba (L.) juveniles (initial weight 0.323 g) were fed continuously two contrasting diets, or starved for 7 days, then re-fed. No mortality was observed throughout the experiment. Starved fish lost body weight. During the re-alimentation period compensatory growth occurred on both diets. Full compensation of body wet weight was exhibited only with fish fed natural food. Initial increase of the variability of wet weight was arrested during starvation on both diets. Variability of weight in fish on natural food continued to increase during re-feeding, while on the dry diet the variability stabilised. This can be explained by differences in food particle size distribution between the diets. The observed high value of the condition coefficient is indicative of a combination of high lipids and low mineral content in the body. The fish fed contrasting diets used different strategies in resource allocation during the compensatory phase. Vimba vimba fed natural food promoted growth in length, allocating consumed food to structural tissues and increasing water intake. Fish receiving formulated diet first restored energy reserves, then continued to create new structural mass.