Structural dissimilarities of hexabromocyclododecane diastereoisomers could raise substantial differences in physicochemical, biological and toxicological properties. In order to fully assess the environmental safety and health risk of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), zebrafish embryos were used to evaluate the developmental toxicity of individual HBCD diastereoisomers (α-HBCD，β-HBCD and γ-HBCD). The results showed that exposure to HBCDs can affect the development of zebrafish embryos/larvae in a dose-dependent and diastereoselective manner. α-, β- and γ-HBCD at 0.01 mg/l had little effect on the development of zebrafish embryos except that exposure to 0.01 mg/l γ-HBCD significantly delayed hatching (P<0.05). At 0.1 mg/l, α-HBCD resulted in depressed heart rate of larvae (96 hpf) and delayed hatching, whereas β- and γ-HBCD both caused significant hatching delay and growth inhibition (P<0.05). Besides, remarkable increase in mortality and malformation rate was noted at 0.1 mg/l α-HBCD exposure groups (P<0.05). At 1.0 mg/l, α-, β- and γ-HBCD significantly affected all of the endpoints monitored (P<0.05). Additionally, HBCD diastereoisomers could induce the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in a dose-dependent manner. The results indicated that HBCD diastereoisomers could cause developmental toxicity to zebrafish embryos through inducing apoptosis by ROS formation. The overall results showed a good agreement that the order of developmental toxicity in zebrafish was γ-HBCD > β-HBCD > α-HBCD.