In this study, the impacts of various illumination intensities on growth, digestion and metabolism as well as antioxidant enzyme dynamics of Takifugu rubripes (0.03 ± 0.01 g) were investigated. Activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), acid phosphatase (ACP), pepsin (PPS), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were measured. Juveniles were reared under four degrees of illumination intensities: 50 mW/m2, 250 mW/m2, 500 mW/m2 and 750 mW/m2, at a constant photoperiod (12D:12 L). Samples were collected at days 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35. After 35 days, the 750 mW/m2 light intensity was found to have significantly increased the final body weight, which was 1.1 ± 0.005 g. On day 35, PPS activities of T. rubripes juveniles in the 750 mW/m2 sample group were significantly low when compared to those of the 250 mW/m2 group while AKP activities in the 750 mW/m2 group were significantly higher than those of the 50 and 500 mW/m2 groups (p < 0.05). Low light intensity was unsuitable for the initial stages of T. rubripes. The 50 mW/m2 light intensity had a negative effect on weight gain of juveniles during the trial period. Moreover, at the end of the experiment, metabolic activities (ALT and LDH) in the 50 mW/m2 group were significantly low than those of other groups (p > 0.05). Even though they were relatively lower, there were no significant differences in SOD activities in the 250 mW/m2 group relative to the 500 and 750 mW/m2 groups. On day 35, high light intensity (750 mW/m2) resulted in stress responses that were characterized by T-AOC activities, and activity values were significantly lower than those of other groups (p < 0.05). These findings imply that different illumination intensities impact the early growth and physiology stages of T. rubripes, with the 250–500 mW/m2 light intensity being the most suitable.