We examined the relative growth of Microstomus achne during early life stages of laboratory-reared larvae and juveniles. Turning points in the relative growth of preanal length and upper jaw length against total length occurred during the settlement period (11.12-19.91 mm in total length). However, turning points in the relative growth of head length and eye diameter, as compared to total length, occurred during metamorphosis (17.57-22.47 mm in total length). Our results suggest that Microstomus achne concentrates its energy on the feeding apparatus (jaw) and digestive organs (intestine) rather than sensory or neural organs (eye, head)during early larval stage growth