We ran a feeding trial to determine optimal dietary protein and lipid levels for growth of juvenile long snout bullhead Leiocassis longirostris Gunther. Eight experimental diets (P20L7, P20L14, P30L7, P30L14, P40L7, P40L14, P50L7 and P50L14) were formulated to contain 20%, 30%, 40% or 50% protein combined with either 7% or 14% lipid. Three replicate groups of fish (mean mass: 3.9 g/fish) were fed one of the experimental diets ad libitum for 8 weeks. Survival of fish fed the P20L14 diet was lower than that of fish fed the P40L14, P50L7 and P50L14 diets. Growth of fish fed diets containing 7% lipid increased with increasing protein level (up to 50% protein); growth of fish fed diets containing 14% lipid increased with increasing protein level (up to 30% protein). The feed efficiency of fish fed a diet with 50% protein and 7% lipid was higher than that of other groups. Whole body moisture and lipid contents were affected by dietary lipid level but not by dietary protein level. The crude lipid contents of fish fed 14% lipid diets were higher than those fed 7% lipid diets across all protein levels (other than the 50% level). Thus, under our experimental conditions, an increase in dietary protein level improved growth and feed efficiency of fish; a diet containing 50% protein with 7% lipid was optimal for growth and effective feed utilization in juvenile long snout bullhead.