Life history characteristics and patterns of genetic variation of three Brachionus calyciflorus clones with differently biochemical genetics and different durations of successive parthenogenesis were compared by means of individual culture and vertical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of isoenzymes (PGM, GPI, MDH). The results showed that the durations of post-reproductive period and the numbers of offspring produced by per female in her life of all the three rotifer clones after long-term successive parthenogenesis (the number of generations was over 200) were similar with those after short-term successive parthenogenesis (the number of generations was about 12) (P>0.05), but the differences in all the other life history characteristics differed with the rotifer clone. Of all the three rotifer clones, the embryonic developmental times of clone A and clone D were significantly affected by the duration of successive parthenogenesis (P<0.05), and the embryonic developmental time of clone A after long-term successive parthenogenesis was shorter than that after short-term successive parthenogenesis, but the reverse was also true for that of clone D. The durations of juvenile period of clone B and clone D were markedly affected by the duration of successive parthenogenesis (P<0.05), and their durations of juvenile period after long-term successive parthenogenesis were shorter than those after short-term successive parthenogenesis. The duration of reproductive period of clone D was significantly affected by the duration of successive parthenogenesis (P<0.05), and the duration of reproductive period after long-term successive parthenogenesis was longer than that after short-term successive parthenogenesis. The mean lifespans of clone A and clone D were markedly affected by the duration of successive parthenogenesis (P<0.05), and their mean lifespans after long-term successive parthenogenesis were longer than those after short-term successive parthenogenesis. The percentages of mictic daughters of clone A and clone B were significantly affected by the duration of successive parthenogenesis (P<0.05), and their percentages of mictic daughters after long-term successive parthenogenesis were higher than those after short-term successive parthenogenesis. The neonate volume of clone D was markedly affected by the duration of successive parthenogenesis (P<0.05), and the neonate volume after long-term successive parthenogenesis were smaller than that after short-term successive parthenogenesis. The starvation times of neonate of clone A and clone D were significantly affected by the duration of successive parthenogenesis (P<0.05), and their starvation times of neonate after long-term successive parthenogenesis were shorter than those after short-term successive parthenogenesis. Clone affected significantly embryonic developmental time, durations of juvenile and reproductive periods, mean lifespan, number of offspring produced by per female in her life, and volume and starvation time of neonate (P<0.05), duration of successive parthenogenesis affected markedly duration of juvenile period, mean lifespan, percentage of mictic daughters and starvation time of neonate (P<0.05), and the interaction between clone and duration of successive parthenogenesis influenced embryonic developmental time, duration of reproductive period, mean lifespan, and volume and starvation time of neonate (P<0.05). Among the three rotifer clones, the embryonic developmental times, the durations of reproductive period and the numbers of produced offspring of clone A and clone D were all similar, but were shorter or less than those of clone B. The durations of juvenile period and the neonate volumes of clone B and clone D were all similar, but were shorter or larger than those of clone A. The mean lifespan and the starvation time of neonate of clone A were both the shortest, and those of clone B were the longest. Compared with the rotifer produced after short-term successive parthenogenesis, the rotifer produced after long-term successive parthenogenesis had a shorter juvenile period, a shorter starvation time of neonate, a longer mean lifespan, and a higher percentage of mictic daughters. Electromorphs of the three enzymes assayed for the three rotifer clones were the same between the individuals produced by the rotifers after long- and short-term successive parthenogenesis.