ABSTRACT We investigated if different temperature regimes during embryogenesis could influence the morphology, the occurrence of oedema, energy reserves, and survival in Seriola rivoliana larvae at mouth opening. Eggs were incubated at six constant (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 °C) and two oscillating (21⇄29 °C) temperatures: decreasing starting (DS) and increasing starting (IS), which resulted in two opposite temperature fluctuating waves: gastrulation and neurulation. Total body length, head length and height were significantly influenced by temperature. Oscillation temperatures reduced major and severe oedema incidence. Mouth gape size was neither influenced by temperature nor by oedema condition. Larvae in DS had the lowest survival (36%) and grew as larvae at 20–24 °C. In contrast, IS showed the highest survival (76%) with larval size similar to 26–28 °C. Constant 28 °C had the lowest survival (48%), which resembled the increase up to 29 °C in DS during neurulation. In contrast, 22–26 °C had higher survivals (55–61%), which resembled the decrease down to 21 °C in IS during neurulation. Larvae at 20 °C and DS had the highest lipids consumption, which suggested detrimental effects on metabolism during gastrulation. Gastrulation and neurulation were likely critical survival and growth-developmental plasticity periods in this species.