Almost all prey live in habitats with predators with different hunting modes; however, most studies on predation have investigated the effects of only one predator at a time. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether qingbo (Spinibarbus sinensis), a common cyprinid fish, responds differently to active hunting and ambush predators and how qingbo responds when both types of predators coexist. Juvenile qingbo were subjected to catfish (Clarias fuscus, active hunter) exposure, snakehead fish (Channa argus, ambush hunter) exposure, or mixed predator exposure (catfish and snakehead coexistence) for a duration of 60 days. Then, their growth, behaviors, swimming performance, and metabolism were measured. Qingbo subjected to active hunting predator exposure exhibited decreased activity and predator inspection and improved fast-start escape performance compared to those in the control group. However, none of the parameters of the fish subjected to ambush predator exposure changed significantly. Fish subjected to mixed predator exposure exhibited improved fast-start escape performance but increased maintenance energy expenditure, whereas no changes were observed in any of the behavioral variables. Qingbo showed a stronger anti-predator response to active hunting predators than to ambush predators, suggesting that the fish exhibit a stronger anti-predator response to a current direct threat than to a potential threat (a predator exists nearby but seldom presents in attack behavior). Additionally, the response of prey fish to multiple predators was quite complex, and the coexistence and interaction of multiple predator species with different hunting modes may lead to serious stress responses and confound the prey’s behavioral responses to each predator.

几乎所有的猎物都生活在具有不同狩猎模式的捕食者的栖息地；然而，大多数关于捕食的研究一次只调查了一种捕食者的影响。在这项研究中，我们旨在调查青波（Spinibarbus sinensis）这种常见的鲤科鱼类，对主动狩猎和伏击捕食者的反应是否不同，以及当两种捕食者共存时青波如何反应。青波幼鱼曾遭受鲶鱼（Clarias fuscus，active Hunter）、黑鱼（Channa argus，伏击猎人）暴露，或混合捕食者暴露（鲶鱼和蛇头共存）持续 60 天。然后，测量它们的生长、行为、游泳表现和新陈代谢。与对照组相比，受到主动狩猎捕食者暴露的青波表现出活动和捕食者检查减少，快速启动逃逸性能提高。然而，遭受伏击捕食者暴露的鱼的参数都没有显着变化。受到混合捕食者暴露的鱼表现出改善的快速启动逃生性能，但增加了维持能量消耗，而在任何行为变量中都没有观察到变化。青波对主动捕猎的捕食者表现出比伏击捕食者更强的反捕食者反应，表明鱼对当前的直接威胁表现出比对潜在威胁更强的反捕食者反应（捕食者存在于附近，但很少出现在攻击行为中）。此外，捕食鱼类对多种捕食者的反应相当复杂，多种捕食方式不同捕食方式的共存和相互作用可能导致严重的应激反应，并混淆猎物对每种捕食者的行为反应。