We determined the timing of initial feeding of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica larvae at 5-8 days after hatching (DAH) and examined how it affected the subsequent growth and survival of reared larvae. The intestinal fullness index of larvae at 5 DAH were significantly lower than those at 7 and 8 DAH, but the larvae tended to reach larger body size with earlier initiation of feeding. These results indicate that initial feeding at 5 DAH has an advantage over initial feeding at 7 and 8 DAH in body size at 20 DAH.
