Stress is recognized as an adaptive response to potentially harmful environmental stimuli. The primary physiological adaptation to stress is an increase in circulating cortisol levels, which, in excess, can be transferred and incorporated into the oocytes of maturing females, affecting the embryonic developmental program. Additionally, maternal energy availability is an essential environmental factor that modulates this program. Based on this background, we investigated the effects of maternal cortisol on the development of the somatotropic axis in the zebrafish offspring and juveniles. Zebrafish mothers were divided into two groups based on diet: Group 1 received a cortisol-enriched diet, to mimic maternal stress, while Group 2 (control) received a standard diet, for five days, followed by breeding on day three. Offspring were assessed at 0, 24, 48, 72-, 96-, 120, and 144 -hours post-fertilization (hpf). Morphological analyses were performed during embryonic development, including survival rate, body length, presence of pericardial edema, and heartbeat. We examined the gene expression of key somatotropic axis components, including mtor, foxO3a, mafbx, murf1, mstna, gh, igf1, igf2a, igf2b, 11hsdb2, and fkbp5. Our finding offers critical insights for aquaculture by elucidating the complex interaction between maternal factors and somatotropic axis development in offspring. The study demonstrated that cortisol-treated females significantly affected offspring survival, morphology, and cardiac structures, in addition to altering gene expression related to protein synthesis, and showed signs of accelerated development. At 30 days post-fertilization, juveniles exhibited a notable increase in muscle bundle size and cross-sectional diameter. This evidence underscores the importance of aquaculture and animal research regarding how maternal environments influence somatotropic axis development in fish, providing a foundation for improved breeding protocols and management practices.