This communication reports the results of an experiment conducted to see if background tank color affects the growth and survival of juvenile H. kuda. Juveniles were reared from 0 to 21 days after birth (DAB) in one of six tank colors: green, blue, red, or black (dark backgrounds), yellow or transparent (light backgrounds). Growth and survival were significantly higher in the dark backgrounds than in the light (p<0.05). At 21 DAB, the maximum juvenile growth (34.58 + or -1.15 mm, 55.43 + or -6.71 mg) and survival (70%) were obtained in the red, blue, and green backgrounds. The order of growth increment and percent survival at DAB 21 was red > green > blue > black > yellow > transparent and blue > green > red > black > yellow > transparent, respectively. Ingestion of the air-bubble accounted for 65% of the total mortality in all backgrounds and occurred more often in light backgrounds. Juveniles reared in blue and red backgrounds reached a settlement phase on 17 DAB; those raised in the transparent tanks reached this stage at 21 DAB. In conclusion, a carefully chosen background can optimize growth and survival during the pelagic phase of juvenile H. kuda.