Fourteen easily recognizable stages of embryonic, larval and juvenile development are described in order to provide a model for early ontogeny in bream (Abramis brama L.). The proposed developmental stages are applicable both in labo ratory studies and in field work, enabling quantitative description of the course and rate of bream early ontogeny and give the possibility to use statistical analysis (i.e. comparison of mean length-at-developmental stage). Early development of bream was studied in a wide range of rearing temperatures (13.5-34.0 0c) and food supply (four food regimes), the two most important environmental factors influencing fi sh survival and development. In the lowest and highest test temperatures, the same stage was ob served in fish of significantly smaller size. Fish reared under different feeding regi mes differed in size when they reached particular developmental stages. Generally, fish kept in disadvantageous conditions (i.e. semi-lethal temperature, poor quality of food) attained the successive developmental stages at smaller size.