The feeding energetics of the prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man 1879) were examined with respect to the effect of dietary fibre. Adult animals were fed semi‐purified diets with 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%α‐cellulose to determine the maximum aerobic scope that could be elicited by the increase in metabolism as specific dynamic action (SDA). The excretion rates of ammonia were also measured. Prawns fed all diets had significantly higher respiration rates after feeding due to SDA. Feed intake was not related to metabolism rate. Both oxygen uptake and ammonia excretion were affected by feed intake, dietary cellulose and time after feeding. SDA was related to dietary fibre, indicated by increments varying from 37% to 386%. O:N ratios were influenced by feed intake, dietary cellulose levels and time after feeding. O:N ratios of between 10 and 49 indicate that the prawns predominately metabolize carbohydrate.