Early development and growth of laboratory-reared Chinese three-line grunt was investigated from a series of specimens to make morphological comparison between two forms of the three-line grunt: Chinese and Japanese forms. Furthermore a precise comparison of early growths of these two forms was carried out with controlling their rearing conditions identical. The morphological characteristics of Chinese three-line grunt at early developmental stages were almost same as those of Japanese form reported previously, in terms of pigmentation pattern, body-size at each developmental stage, the sequences of the developments of fin-rays, digestive organ and squamation. Nevertheless the early growth of the Chinese form exceeded that of the Japanese form. In addition to that, although they were reared under identical conditions, the ratios of various body parts against body length and some of the meristic characteristics of the Chinese form were significantly different from those of the Japanese form.