Acute toxicities of heavy metals including mercury, copper, cadmium and zinc to the larva and juvenile of Penaeus chinensis were examined. The postlarvae had higher resistance to these heavy metals than zoea and mysis larvae. The relative toxicities of heavy metals on zoea, mysis and PL5 were as follows: Hg2+ > Cu2+ > Cd2+ > Zn2+. The relative toxicities on PL12 and PL20 were as follows: Hg2+ > Cd2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+. For both postlarvae, zoea and mysis, tolerence of animal to these heavy metals increased with growth. However, LC50 value decreased with time exposure for every larvae tested.