Abstract: The compositions of protein and amino acids were measured and analyzed during the embryonic development of Cherax quadricarinatus. The results indicated that the contents of total protein and total amino acids were all downtrend. The total amino acid contents reduced from 58.05 % (dry weight) at the fertilized egg stage to 47.49% at the prepare-hatching stage. The correlation between the total amino acid and the essential amino acid(except methionine) was prominent, the coefficients of variation were from 8. 25 0o to13. 34N. In the non-essential amino acid，the contents of glutamine acid and aspartic acid were relatively higher, but the content of cysteine was relatively lower. The results above indicated that protein and amino acid were not only the construction substances of embryonic development, but also the dominating energy sources.