[Objective] Crude oil degradation by Sphingobacterium bambusaue and its UV mutants were studied. [Methods] The efficient crude oil degrading strains were obtained by UV mutagenesis, and the crude oil degradation rate was tested by gravimetric method in the culture conditions of different crude oil concentration, pH and salt concentration. [Results] The crude oil degradation rate of the strain Sphingobacterium bambusaue and UV mutant IBFC2009-S3 cultured in crude oil medium for 5 d was 25.86% and 42.85% respectively, and the crude oil degradation rate of UV mutant IBFC2009-S3 increased 65.7% than that of the originating strains; the crude oil degradation rate of the strain IBFC2009-S3 was 50.51% in the optimum condition which was 0.5 g/L crude oil, pH 7.0, and 10 g/L NaCl. [Conclusion] Crude oil degradation by Sphingobacterium bambusaue and its UV mutants IBFC2009-S3 have the higher ability of crude oil degradation.