The influence of oxygen content in sea water and 14-days starvation on respiration rate (RR) of the bivalve species, blood clam Anadara kagoshimensis (Tokunaga, 1906) has been studied. Clams with shell height 25–30 mm were used for experiments. The RR varied over a wide range, from maximal value 89.9 mgO₂·l^–1 (at 100% saturation) to 5.0 µgO₂·h^–1·gww^–1 (at 76% saturation) at salinity 17–18 and temperature 18°C. The oxygen consumption of the blood clam was substantially lower compared to other benthic bivalves. Results suggest the ability of A. kagoshimensis to transition rapidly from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism under conditions that are not critical for them. Two-week starvation led to an increase in RRs of the blood clam A. kagoshimensis, which indicates an intensification of oxidative processes of organism by 35%–55%. Metabolic processes that require increased oxygen consumption are discussed.