We tested the effects of pCO 2 on Seriatopora caliendrum recruits over the first 5.3d of post-settlement existence. In March 2011, 11–20 larvae were settled in glass vials (3.2mL) and incubated at 24.0°C and ~250μmolquantam −2 s −1 while supplied with seawater (at 1.4mLs −1 ) equilibrated with 51.6Pa pCO 2 (ambient) or 86.4Pa pCO 2 . At 51.6Pa pCO 2 , mean respiration 7h post-settlement was 0.056±0.007nmolO 2 recruit −1 min −1 , but rose quickly to 0.095±0.007nmolO 2 recruit −1 min −1 at 3.3d post-settlement, and thereafter declined to 0.075±0.002nmolO 2 recruit −1 min −1 at 5.3d post-settlement (all±SE). Elevated pCO 2 depressed respiration of recruits by 19% after 3.3d and 12% overall (i.e., integrated over 5.3d), and while it had no effect on corallite area, elevated pCO 2 was associated with weaker adhesion to the glass settlement surface and lower protein biomass. The unique costs of settlement and metamorphosis for S. caliendrum over 5.3d are estimated to be 257mJrecruit −1 at 51.6Pa pCO 2 , which is less than the energy content of the larvae and recruits.