ABSTRACT The native fish Dormitator latifrons, also known as chame, popoyote, puyeque and Pacific fat sleeper, grows in brackish environments in estuaries of the American Pacific coast, from Baja California (Mexico) to Perú. It is consumed regionally, and its characteristics under culture conditions are currently being evaluated. This study compared the proximate composition and fatty acid profile of wild and cultured specimens of D. latifrons to determine the effect of feeding them a commercial diet for tilapia under culture conditions. The protein content of the muscle of wild fish was higher than that of cultured fish, but the total lipid content was lower. The levels of fatty acids C18:1n9 and C18:2n6 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in cultured fish, while the levels of C20:5n3 (EPA) and C22:6n3 (DHA) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in wild fish. The n3/n6 ratio was higher in wild fish. These results show that D. latifrons is a species that can be readily cultured and that quickly gets used to formula feed. However, given the fatty acid composition of this species, it is necessary to control the quality of oil in the diet.