<p>Drinking–water reservoirs are essential sources of high–quality water for millions of people, and their ecological management increasingly relies on biomanipulation, enhancing top–down control by piscivorous fishes to improve water quality. However, the unique environmental and regulatory conditions of these reservoirs, including environmental gradients, artificial water–level fluctuations, artificial mixing, and restricted fishing, present challenges to the survival, growth, and spatial behaviour of piscivorous species. This systematic review synthesises current knowledge on these three key ecological processes, highlighting differences between wild and stocked individuals and emphasising the implications for reservoir management. Survival is lowest during early life stages and is influenced by environmental stressors, prey availability, and stocking practices. Growth is shaped by temperature, oxygen, prey supply, and density–dependent factors, with rapid development typically following the shift to piscivory. Spatial behaviour varies widely across species and individuals, affecting predator–prey interactions and the success of biomanipulation. The review identifies critical knowledge gaps and highlights the need for system–specific data to optimise stocking strategies and ensure effective ecological control in drinking–water reservoirs.</p>