Groups of Dormitator latifrons in triplicate (4.1 ± 2.0 g and 6.2 ± 1.0 cm) were fed experimental diets containing four levels of substitution of fishmeal (FM) by soybean meal (SM) (0, 40, 70, and 100%, respectively). The diets were formulated to be isoproteic (35% crude protein) and isolipidic (8.0% crude lipids). The effect of each treatment on growth was evaluated and its implications on the cost of feeding. After 60 days of feeding, there were no significant differences in the fish's proximate composition (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the diets (P < 0.05) in the evaluated biological indices: total growth increase (TGI), specific growth rate (SGR), thermal growth coefficient (TGC), and survival (%). Feeding costs decreased significantly as the proportion of soybean meal in the diet increased. The results indicated that substituting FM by up to 100% of SM can promote adequate growth in D. latifrons without affecting body composition and survival while also reducing operative costs during the fattening process.