A comparative study was undertaken to determine progeny development of Dermestes frischii Kugelann and its damage on 12 smoke-dried fish species. The highest weight of the emerged F₁ adult D. frischii was observed in Mormyrus delicosus (0.10 g) followed by Clarias sp. and Malapterurus sp. (0.07 g); while Channa sp., Auchenoglanis sp. and Moronyrus rumi had the least weight of emerged adults (0.01 g). Clarias sp. and Mormyrus delicosus had significantly (P < 0.05) higher number of emerged F₁ adults compared with the number of emerged adults in other species except Malapterurus sp. and Lates niloticus. The significantly (P < 0.05) longest day to first adult emergence (24 days) was observed in Lates niloticus. The least percentage weight loss (20.52%) due to D. frischii infestation was observed on Channa sp., which was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than 73.68% observed in Malapterurus sp. and 71.23% observed in Alestes sp. There was a positive correlation between adult progeny and weight of emerged adult (r = 0.92, P < 0.01). Also, fish bone weight was positively correlated to percentage weight loss (r = 0.87, P < 0.01).