Objective: To determine the production cost and profitability of different feeding strategies during tropical gar larviculture. Design/methodology/approach: Growth and survival obtained from the evaluation of an experimental diet with cornstarch, compared to a conventional strategy (commercial diet for rainbow trout co-feed with Artemia nauplii). The experimental diet was evaluated with co-feeding with Artemia, and with no Artemia. The production cost was estimated for each strategy and the unit cost per juvenile was calculated, as well as their sale cost. For economic analysis, their cost-benefit ratio and the breakeven point were also determined. Results: Direct feeding with no Artemia strategy during larviculture is not profitable. According to the cost-benefit ratio, comparing the strategy with the experimental diet in co-feeding with the conventional strategy, the profitability of the first was greater. The breakeven point between the profitable strategies was similar, but the greater survival with the experimental diet suggests a higher impact on the optimization of the production system. Limitations on study/implications: The lack of economic analysis on the tropical gar larviculture affect indirectly the tropical gar production system as there is no accurate information on its production costs. Findings/conclusions: From a financial point of view, the feeding strategy using an experimental diet with co-feeding is the most profitable process in larviculture