Abstract:The ef fect o f star vat io n to the growth, feeding abi lity and sur viva l o f red se a bream ( Pagrosomus maj or ) a nd oliv e f lounder ( Paral ichthys ol ivaceus ) larv ae dur ing early deve lopment w ere ex amined in the delay ed feeding tr ials. Re d sea bream larv ae arriv ed the point o f no r eturn ( PNR) at 6- 7 days of age, it s y olk exhausted at 5- 6 days of age. The PNR of o live f lounder larv ae w as one day o r two to three days ahead of yo lk exhaust io n. The initia l feeding ra te w as lowe r, then slow ly increased to the peak w hen the yo lk almost ex hausted, af ter that , it decr eased. The hig hest initia l feeding r ate o f r ed sea bre am w as 86. 7%, and o live f lounder w as o nly 35%. The grow th and surv ival rates decreased w ith increasing o f feeding-delayed t ime. The sur viva l r ate w as not af fected w hen the init ial feeding wa s at the ag e o f 3 days for red sea br eam.