In order to promote the research on erbium-doped fiber’s anti-radiation properties and fully grasp variation laws of erbium-doped fiber’s properties under radiation, theoretical analysis on how irradiation effect erbium-doped Fiber based on model of color centers was conducted. The performance changes of erbium-doped fiber that may occur during irradiation were predicted. According to working principle and application characteristics, online real-time monitoring of 980 nm wave band loss spectra, 1 550 nm wave band loss spectra, luminescence spectra of two different types(EDF-L-980 and MP980) of erbium-doped fiber as well as recovery measuring after radiation were carried out,. Studies showed that spectral characteristics of both types have similar variation trends during radiation. Losses at 980 and 1 530 nm wave band increase monotonically with dose, and the relationship is approximately linear at absorption peak of 980 and 1 530 nm; luminescence spectra intensity decreases monotonically with dose, and energy of luminescence spectra is shifting to long wavelengths, while its mean wavelength and bandwidth increasing substantially. The relationship between luminescence intensity and dose is also approximately linear at luminescence peak of 1 530 nm. Erbium-doped fiber’s spectral characteristics recovered modestly after radiation, but to a limited extent of less than 40% for all parameters. The experiment result is in good agreement with theoretical analysis and prediction, so rationality of theoretical explanation of erbium-doped fiber’s performance changes during radiation has been proven.