Examination of the gut contents of wild and reared Sparus aurata (Family Sparidae) from the Egyptian Mediterranean waters and fish farms revealed no difference in their feeding habits. The diet, which was extremely variable, depended largely on size of fish and food availability. Crustaceans, molluscs, polychaetes, echinoderms and teleosts formed the major food items. Feeding was examined in relation to size, month and habitat. Results for both wild and reared fish were compared.