In this study, families of selected population for growth (SP_BWT), selected population for white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) resistance (SP_RW), Bohai wild population (WP_BH) and Huanghai wild population (WP_HH) of F. chinensis were constructed through artificial insemination and with the standardized procedure of larvae rearing. Growth and survival performance were studied among four populations after a 70 days common test. The results showed that the maximum least square mean of body weight was 17.50 g in SP_BWT while the minimum was 13.03 g in WP_HH. Compared with WP_BH, body weight of SP_BWT increased by 23.41% (P < 0.01) and that of SP_RW by 12.20% (P > 0.05). Body weights of SP_BWT and SP_RW were significantly higher than that of WP_HH, which increased by 34.31% (P < 0.01) and 22.10% (P < 0.05), respectively. The mean AGR of four populations was 0.19, 0.18, 0.17 and 0.16 g d−1, respectively. Coefficient of variation of body weight among four populations was high, which ranged from 32.67% to 35.25%. Such a range showed that there was the potentiality for further improvement in selected populations. Coefficient of variation of survival rate among four populations was low, varying between 3.20% and 5.90%. The difference of survival was highly significant (P < 0.01) between SP_BWT and WP_BH, and significant (P < 0.05) between SP_RW and WP_BH. However, no significant difference among other populations (P < 0.05) was observed. Different growth performances were also observed among different families in each population. The body weight of 798F family was the highest. The absolute growth rate (AGR) was 0.25 g d−1, 150% higher than that of the lowest one, 0.1 g d−1 in 807F family. Survival rate of families among four populations was different. The highest was 94.74%, and the lowest was 71.88%.