The bagrid catfish, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Lacepede, 1803), is an omnivorous species indigenous to Africa that is cultured in both fresh and brackish waters (Afinowi and Marioghae 1987). It has been shown to have high food conversion efficiency, with good growth and survival (Ezenwa 1982a, 1982b), as well as high quality meat and excellent taste, and hence is in great demand and highly priced (Ezenwa 1982b, Ibrahim 1988). However, little nutritional research has been carried out on this economical important species, hindering the viability of commercial production. In determining the minimum nutrient requirements of a cultured species, protein is usually given first consideration because of its high cost and essential role for growth, tissue maintenance and reproduction. Among the catfishes, optimal dietary crude protein (CP) levels are 24%–37% for juvenile channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (see: Garling and Wilson 1976; Robinson and Li 1998, 1999, Li et al. 2000, Gibson and Gatlin 2001, Li et al. 2003, 2007, D’Abramo et al. 2008), 33%–37% for juvenile South American jundia catfish, Rhamdia quelen (see: Meyer and Fracalossi 2004), 35% for juvenile African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (see: Arowosoge 1987, Omar 1996), 40% for fingerling (< 10 g) bagrid catfish, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (see: Adewolu and Fagade 1996), hybrid African catfish, Clarias gariepinus × Heterobranchus bidorsalis (see: Adebayo and Quadri 2005), and European catfish, Silurus glanis (see: Bekcan et al. 2006), and 40%–42% for Asian red tail catfish, Hemibagrus (Mystus) nemurus (see: Khan et al. 1993, 1996, Ng et al. 2001). The presently reported study was undertaken to determine the effects of varying dietary CP levels on the nutrient utilization and growth of juvenile Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, with a view to determining its protein requirement.