Adaptive strategy of prey against predation risk has been pivotal in the studies of non-consumptive effects. However, the adaptive strategies and response mechanisms of prey to various predation risk cues remain unclear. We hypothesized that prey adopt the similar adaptive strategy to address different predation risks, but the response mechanisms depend on the attributes of predation risk cues. To test this hypothesis, we utilized the Didinium-Paramecium as a predator-prey model to first evaluate the effects of various predation risk cues (including homogenates from predators (TD) and prey (TP) alone or in combination (TM)) and conspecific prey density on the prey growth rate (SGRs), thus determine prey’s adaptive strategies, and then reveal the underlying response mechanisms based on transcriptomic analysis. Our results show that predation risk cues significantly enhance prey SGRs, with effects arranged in descending order as TM, TD and TP; however, such effects gradually decrease as the conspecific prey density increases until they disappear. The trend in the level of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) generated in prey exposed to different predation risk cues is similar to that of SGRs. Notably, pathways based on enrichment of DEGs mediated by predation risk cues involve cellular processes, nutrient metabolism and synthesis of biological macromolecules, however, they differ in type, number, and location within specific biological processes. In conclusion, prey Paramecium employ early reproduction strategies to address the predation risk caused by different cues, and differences in response mechanisms depend on the attributes of predation risk cues, resulting in differences in prey SGRs.