The effect of 16 weeks starvation and 6 weeks refeeding on the size and chemical composition of the hepatopancreas of 2 size classes of C. destructor (20–40 g and 40–60 g) maintained at 2 temperatures (10°C and 25°C) was investigated under laboratory conditions. The response to starvation was not influenced by size class. In fed animals, the wet hepatosomatic index (HSI_w-%) and dry hepatosomatic index (HSI_d-mg/g) increased to 7% at week 2 and 36 mg/g at week 10 respectively, whereas in starved animals HSI_w and HSI_d decreased to 2.6% and 3.6 mg/g at week 10 respectively. Hepatopancreas moisture (HM-%) of fed animals decreased to 51% after 10 weeks, whereas in starved animals it increased to a maximum of 81% after 2 weeks. In fed animals, hepatopancreas lipid (HL-mg/g), protein (HP-mg/g), and ash (HA-mg/g) reached a maximum of 30 mg/g at week 10, 7.8 mg/g at week 6, and 2 mg/g at week 4 respectively. Hepatopancreas carbohydrate (HNFE-mg/g) in fed animals fluctuated considerably. In starved animals, HL did not significantly change for the first 4 weeks, and a minimum of 0.5 mg/g occurred at week 8. In contrast, HP decreased for the first 2 weeks to 3 mg/g, and HNFE decreased for 4 weeks to 0.67 mg/g after which no significant change occurred. Ash levels in starved animals generally decreased for 12 weeks to 0.36 mg/g. Low temperature reduced the rate of utilization of hepatopancreas nutrients. About 7 months of starvation at 10°C is required for the hepatopancreas to become nutritionally depleted. Refeeding starved animals resulted in an increase in wet and dry hepatosomatic indices and all hepatopancreas nutrients and a decrease in hepatopancreas moisture. Complete recovery of the hepatopancreas of starved animals following refeeding, to levels recorded in the fed control animals, was recorded for the HSI_w, HA, and HNFE. The various hepatopancreas condition indices used here are discussed in relation to their practical value and accuracy in predicting animal condition, and a classification is presented. The adaptive significance of hepatopancreas size and nutrient storage capacity is also discussed.