To establish the changes which during embryogenesis and early larval development, fertilized eggs and larvae of Pelteobagrus fulvidraco were examined for lipid content and fatty acid compositions. The lipid content and fatty acid composition in the fertilized eggs and larvae which did not feed for 7 days after hatching were analyzed by means of common chemical assay and gas chromatography (GC). The results showed that the lipid content of fertilized eggs tended to increase during hatching period. Fertilized eggs contained more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) than saturated fatty acids (SFA). There was no significant change in the proximate fatty acid composition of eggs during hatching. The lipid content of larvae decreased sharply after hatching. Total lipid decreased from 4.57% on day 0 to 0.75% on day 7. The fatty acid composition in starved larvae changed significantly as starvation progressed. In starved larvae the MUFA content decreased significantly and the greatest decrease occurred in the C18:1 content. In this regard the degree of decreases was, n-9> n- 6> n-3, suggesting that MUFA were a major energy source for starving Pelteobagrus fulvidraco larvae, DHA and AA were conserved in preference to EPA.