In order to investigate the growth performance and meat quality characteristics of I. punctatus cultured under traditional pond (TP), high density recirculating aquaculture system (HD-RAS) and cement pond (CP), the growth performance, nutritional composition, colour, water-holding capacity and texture of muscle from I. punctatus selected randomly were evaluated. The results showed that the weight gain rate and specific-growth rate between TP and HD-RAS groups had no significant difference, but higher than those of CP group which had the highest ratio of liver-somatic index (2.35%±0.22%). In comparison with TP group, the samples from HD-RAS and CP groups exhibited lower content of crude fat but higher content of crude protein and ash. The highest values of lightness (L*) (58.18±3.56) and redness (a*) (6.05±1.08) of HD-RAS group were obtained, and the lowest (48.15±6.04 and 4.81±0.84, respectively) were CP group. TP group exhibited lowest cooked rate, highest centrifugal loss, drip loss and liquid loss. Meanwhile, the difference between HD-RAS and CP groups was not statistically significant. The hardness, chewiness and springiness of HD-RAS and CP groups enhanced significantly compared with those of TP group. Additionally, no significant difference in cohesiveness and resilience was observed among the three groups. Given the results, the cement pond aquaculture mode resulted in a slower growth of I. punctatus. Compared to traditional aquaculture mode, the high density recirculating aquaculture system had no negative effect on the growth performance. Besides, the I. punctatus muscle from high density recirculating aquaculture pond exhibiting higher water-holding ability and better textural properties had characteristics of higher content of protein and lower content of fat.