A feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimum dietary protein and lipid levels for the growth of juvenile muddy loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus. Eight experimental diets (designated as P20L7, P20L14, P30L7, P30L14, P40L7, P40L14, P50L7 and P50L14) were formulated to contain 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% protein with 7% and 14% lipid. Three replicate groups of muddy loach (1.5 g/fish) were fed one of the experimental diets ad libitum for 8 weeks. Survival of fish fed the P20L14 diet was lower than in other groups (P<0.05). Specific growth rate (SGR) and feed efficiency (FE) of fish were affected by dietary protein (P<0.05) and lipid (P<0.005) levels. SGR and FE of fish tended to decrease with increasing dietary lipid level at the same protein level. There were no significant differences in SGR and FE among fish fed diets containing different protein levels ranging from 30% to 50% with the same lipid level. Whole body moisture and lipid contents were affected by dietary protein and lipid levels. Crude lipid content of fish fed the 14% lipid diets was higher than that of fish fed 7% lipid diets at each protein level. The results of this study indicate that a diet containing 30% protein with 7% lipid would be suitable for the optimum growth and effective feed utilization of juvenile muddy loach.