The feeding habits of Coilia ectenes and Hyporhamphus intermedius of Meiliang Bay of Lake Taihu were investigated in autumn, 2004. The relative importance, selectivity of different food items and the diet overlap between the two fish were also analyzed. The results showed that the man food of C. ectenes and H. intermedius included planktonic crustaceans, fish and insects. Calanoid copepod Schmackeria inopinus was the most important food for C. ectenes, while cladoceran Moina sp． played the most significant role in the food of H. intermedius. H. intermedius fed a much higher proportion of fish and insects than C. ectenes. Both C. ectenes and H. intermedius showed a high positive selection for S. inopinus, but negative selection for Bosmina spp． , the most numerous cladoceran in Lake Taihu. Diet overlap between C. ectenes and H. intermedius was significant which indicates a strong competition existed. However, in order to have a complete understanding of the competition between C. ectenes and H. intermedius, it needs a further investigation on distribution, ontogenetic and seasonal characteristics of the feeding of both fish species in Lake Taihu.