Morphological changes in the reared rock bream, Oplegnathus fasciatus, from hatching to six days after hatching were examined during the early growth stage under starvation. All the larvae died within five days when feeding was delayed for three days after hatching. These results imply that initial larval food should be supplied within two days of hatching. Changes in the pectoral angle and the ratios of eye height to head height, gut height to standard length, and gut height to myotome height in the rock bream are alternative indicators for the identification of starving fish. These indicators might prove useful in evaluating the successful transition from endogenous to exogenous feeding in this species.